Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her written statement of 15 November 2005, Official Report, column 48WS, on avian influenza (epidemiology report), what species or sub-species the mesias from the quarantine facility in Essex were from; and whether that species or sub-species is indigenous to Taiwan.

Ben Bradshaw: The species of mesia was "Leiothrix argentauris." This species is indigenous to Taiwan.

Flood Prevention

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to prevent flooding in the Underdale area of Shrewsbury.

Elliot Morley: Following completion of the Environment Agency's £3.5 million Frankwell flood alleviation scheme, the scope for further flood risk improvement works in Shrewsbury in the immediate future is limited by benefit cost issues and the relative priority of these works against the need for investment in other locations.
	I understand the agency assessed Underdale Road for inclusion in trials of "temporary" defences (that is flood defences which would remain permanently at hand, to be raised temporarily during periods of heightened flood risk). However the benefits from such works proved insufficient in relation to justification of costs in the region of £460,000.
	The agency's draft fluvial severn strategy considers a number of options for all flood prone areas along the River Severn and, together with the agency's River Severn catchment flood management plan, will provide the agency with a framework for the management of flood risk in the longer term.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will introduce legislation creating legally-binding targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Elliot Morley: The UK already has a legally binding target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. during the 2008–12 period under the Kyoto protocol.

Timber

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to reduce the amount of illegal timber entering the United Kingdom.

Elliot Morley: The UK is taking a range of steps to reduce the amount of illegal timber entering the United Kingdom.
	The European Commission published its Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan in May 2003. This describes a package of measures to tackle illegal logging, including proposals that the EU enters into partnership agreements with timber producing countries to establish a licensing system designed to identify products and license them for export to the EU.
	The UK is delighted that the proposal for a licensing system received political agreement at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 24 October 2005, under the UK's Presidency of the European Union. This will be adopted in December 2005. The UK, with other EU partners, is already discussing possible agreements with timber producing countries, including Ghana and Malaysia. It is hoped that these agreements will be finalised soon. This will mean that the amount of illegal timber entering the United Kingdom from these countries will reduce.
	The FLEGT Action Plan also proposes that the Commission look at other options to tackle illegal logging, including using Government procurement and introducing legislation to prevent the importation of illegally logged timber at a member state or EU level. Government awaits the European Commission's report, which will allow us to take this work forward, including the options for action at the UK level.

Correspondence

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Brent, East dated 22 March on behalf of Ms Christine Hilder and Mr. Carl Ernsting.

Karen Buck: The Department had no trace of receiving the letter from the hon. Member for Brent, East dated 22 March at the time but a copy was obtained from her office on 30 November. The subject matter is one for which Ministers at HM Treasury have responsibility and they will be replying to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Endowment Mortgages

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints about endowment mortgages were made to the Financial Ombudsman Service in each of the last five years; and how many were upheld.

Ivan Lewis: The Financial Ombudsman Service brought together eight separate dispute resolution schemes covering the financial services sector and assumed its powers under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 on 1 December 2001. The following table shows the number of mortgage endowment cases received by the ombudsman service in each full financial year since year ending 31 March 2001 and shows the percentage breakdown of resolved cases upheld (either wholly or in part) in the consumers favour.
	
		
			  Year ending Mortgage endowment complaints received Percentage of resolved cases upheld 
		
		
			 2004–05 69,737 47.3 
			 2003–04 51,917 32.5 
			 2002–03 13,750 45.8 
			 2001–02 14,595 n/a 
			 2000–01 9,067 n/a 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.

Illegal Drugs

John Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many deaths in Sandwell illegal drugs were the primary cause in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. John Spellar, dated 1 December 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking in how many deaths in Sandwell, illegal drugs were the primary cause in each year since 1997. (33281)
	Figures readily available from death certification relate to deaths due to drug poisoning, not the total number that were attributable to drug use. These figures are produced from a special database which contains deaths where the underlying cause was drug poisoning. Deaths that may be caused indirectly by drug use, for example HIV infection or road traffic accidents, are not included. Death registration data are not the best source of information on these "indirect" deaths, because information on the role of drug use in the death may not be provided on the death certificate.
	The most recent year for which figures are available is 2003. There were 12 deaths certified as due to drug poisoning 1 and involving drugs controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act to residents of Sandwell 2 in the seven years 1997 to 2003.3 A further breakdown by year is not possible because of the small numbers of deaths involved.
	1 Defined using the following codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision for 2001–2003: F11-F16, F18-F19, X40-X44, X60-X64, Y10-Y14, X85 and the following codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision for 1997–2000: 292, 304, 305.2–305.9, E850-E858, E950.0-E950.5, E962.0 and E980.0-E980.5.
	2 Usual residents of Sandwell. 3 Data are for deaths occurring in each calendar year.

National Insurance (Freelance Musicians)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he consulted (a) the Musicians' Union, (b) the Association of British Orchestras, (c) individual major orchestras, (d) the Arts Council for (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland and (e) Ministers in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on requirements for freelance self-employed musicians and the orchestras and ensembles that engage them to pay Class 1 national insurance contributions.

Dawn Primarolo: The changes were introduced on 17 July 1998 following a press release by the Social Security Minister, John Denham on 15 July 1998. At the time responsibility for national insurance liability for entertainers which included actors, singers or musicians fell to the Department for Work and Pensions, or as it was known then the Department of Social Security. The Department of Social Security consulted interested parties before the changes were introduced.

National Insurance (Freelance Musicians)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when (a) the Musicians' Union, (b) the Association of British Orchestras, (c) individual major orchestras and (d) the Arts Council for (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland were informed of requirements for freelance self-employed musicians and the orchestras and ensembles that engage them to pay Class 1 national insurance contributions.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department of Social Security, which was then responsible for policy on national insurance contributions issued a press release on 15 July 1998 to announce the revised national insurance arrangements for actors and musicians and changes to legislation from the 17 July 1998.

Terrorism

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the bank accounts which have been frozen since 11 September 2001 on the grounds of terrorist associations.

Ivan Lewis: Since 11 September 2001, 58 accounts have been frozen in respect of individuals and entities suspected of involvement in terrorism. The aggregate value of accounts frozen is just under £400,000.
	A consolidated list of individuals and entities subject to UK financial sanctions is available from the Bank of England website at:
	http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/financial sanctions/current/index.htm
	Freezing action also prevents the flow of funds to listed individuals and entities asset freezing is part of the Government's overall strategy to create a hostile environment for terrorism and safeguard financial systems. A value cannot easily be put on those wider effects.

VAT

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what proportion of average household expenditure is (a) taxable at the standard rate of VAT, (b) taxable at the reduced rate of VAT, (c) taxable at the zero rate of VAT and (d) exempt from VAT; and what the equivalent figure was in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002, (iii) 2003 and (iv) 2004;
	(2)  what changes in the rate of value added tax have been introduced in each year since 1 January 1995; and what the rate of value added tax was in each year.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the proportions of household expenditure on goods and services subject to different VAT rates are available up to 2003. These estimates and changes in VAT rates and principal goods and services covered by different rates are published by HM Revenue and Customs in the VAT Factsheet which can be found at www.uktradeinfo.co.uk

Departmental Expenditure

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department and its agencies have spent on (a) the design and production of new logos and (b) employing external (i) public relations and (ii) graphic design agencies in each year since 2000, broken down by project.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office was established on 1 July 1999. The only expenditure during the financial year 2000–01 was when the Department spent (a) £2,728 on designing of the Wales Office Logo; (b) (i) Nil; and (b) (ii) £13,566 on developing its website.

Independent Schools

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the recent Office of Fair Trading report on independent schools.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Office of Fair Trading is the United Kingdom's independent competition regulator. It has a duty to investigate and address anti-competitive conduct and enforce competition law. It has investigated the exchange of information between independent schools about the fees they charge. Its provisional findings are that 50 schools have breached Chapter One of the Competition Act which prohibits anti-competitive agreements. This is a matter for the Office if Fair Trading. The Government have no substantive role in individual cases.

Ministerial Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent in each year from 1 May 1997 on ministerial travel, broken down by (a) provision and running costs of vehicular transport, (b) first class travel by rail, (c) standard class travel by rail, (d) first class travel by air, (e) club or equivalent class travel by air and (f) economy class travel by air.

Alan Johnson: All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the 'Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers', copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	My hon. Friend and Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office has asked Roy Burke, chief executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) to write to the hon. Member with details of the costs of ministerial vehicles provided to Departments in 2004–05. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
	For information for the financial years 2000–01 to 2003–04 I refer the hon. Member to the letters from the chief executive of the GCDA to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) dated 10 January 2005 and to the then hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs dated 13 September 2003. Copies of these letters are available in the Libraries of the House.
	A breakdown of costs of domestic ministerial travel by rail, air and car, except for vehicles provided by the GCDA, is available for April 2004 to March 2005 and includes the cost of private office staff travelling with the Minister.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Rail 37,000 
			 Air 12,000 
			 Car 2,000 
		
	
	In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information for the financial years 1995–96 to 2004–05. Information for 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current financial year.

Women's Pensions

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent discussions she has had with the Department for Work and Pensions on women's pensions.

Meg Munn: I had a constructive meeting with the Department for Work and Pensions and am pleased that fair outcomes for women is one of their principles for reform.
	Now that the Pensions Commission have reported, we will build on our previous discussions to tackle pension inequalities.

Andrew Cunningham (Statement)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether Mr. Andrew Cunningham's statement at a recent conference on the drinks industry, the liberalisation of licensing laws and the "nanny state" reflects Government policy.

James Purnell: Mr Cunningham's statement as reported in the media was part of a presentation given by him on licensing reform on behalf of the Department to a regional conference, hosted by the British Institute of Innkeeping for its members, at Cheltenham Racecourse on 29 October 2002. Mr Cunningham's comments then about the reform of licensing law were an explanation of current Government policy. His comments about "nanny staters" were not a statement of policy. They were a personal observation made in response to a debate within the industry about, in particular, the merits of transferring the control of alcohol licensing from the licensing justices to local authorities. Mr Cunningham made the observation that if the industry allowed such an issue to divide them or to dilute their support for licensing reform, then opponents of reform could be expected to exploit that division. In referring generally to opponents of reform, Mr. Cunningham had used the expression "nanny staters" in his speaking notes which were subsequently handed to representatives of the trade press attending and he subsequently apologised for this use of injudicious language. Mr Cunningham did not refer to any Members of Parliament or any other individuals during the course of the conference.

Drinking Age

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment the Government have made of the potential impact on crime and disorder of reducing the legal drinking age to 16 years.

James Purnell: The licensing White Paper, "Time for Reform" set out the reasons for the Government's view that the legal age for purchasing and drinking alcohol should not be lowered. This included the danger of too early an exposure to alcohol in unsupervised circumstances.

Physical Education

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what definition she uses of high quality physical education and school sport as required by 2004 public service agreement target number one.

Richard Caborn: The document "High Quality PE and Sport for Young People" (DfES/DCMS, March 2004) provides a detailed description of the outcomes of high quality physical education and school sport For the purposes of the joint DCMS/DfES PE and school sport public service agreement target, high quality PE and school sport produces young people with the skills, understanding, desire and commitment to continue to improve and achieve in a range of PE, sport and health-enhancing physical activities, in line with their abilities.
	A further document, "Do you have high quality PE and sport in your school?" (DfES/DCMS, January 2005), helps teachers to use the pupil outcomes of high quality to carry out self-evaluation of the quality of PE and sport they provide. Copies of these documents have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Departmental Assets

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the 10 most valuable (a) movable and (b) immovable assets owned by his Department.

Adam Ingram: The 10 most valuable movable and immovable tangible fixed assets owned by the Department, based on the current net book values (NBV) recorded in our asset registers, are as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 Movable assets NBV 
		
		
			 HMS Albion 196.5 
			 HMS Bulwark 210.4 
			 HMS Talent 179.4 
			 HMS Torbay 180.3 
			 HMS Trenchant 207.0 
			 HMS Triumph 209.3 
			 HMS Vanguard 433.9 
			 HMS Vengeance 581.5 
			 HMS Victorious 473.1 
			 HMS Vigilant 525.0 
		
	
	
		
			  £ million 
			 Immovable assets NBV 
		
		
			 Chelsea Barracks, London (Land) (1)— 
			 Hyde Park Barracks, London (Land) 70.0 
			 Joint Services Command and Staff College, Watchfield 73.7 
			 MOD Main Building (Land) 62.5 
			 MOD Main Building, London 229.4 
			 RAF Northholt (Land) 193.0 
			 RAF Uxbridge Camp (Land) 195.5 
			 Salisbury Training Area 93.0 
			 Sandhurst Station and Barossa Common Playing Field  (Land) 60.0 
			 Wellington Barracks, London (Land) 65.0 
		
	
	(1) Figure withheld for reasons of commercial sensitivity as site is about to be marketed.

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of his Department's monthly financial submissions to the Treasury's general expenditure monitoring system for (a) financial years (i) 2002–03, (ii) 2003–04 and (iii) 2004–05 and (b) the first six months of 2005–06.

Adam Ingram: Copies of the General Expenditure Monitoring Systems (GEMS) returns for 2002–03 and 2003–04 are available in the Library of the House. I will place a copy of the GEMS return for 2004–05 and the first six months of 2005–06 in the Library. The data on this return is broken down by requests for resources and includes resources within departmental expenditure limits, within annually managed expenditure and outside departmental expenditure limits.

Public Service Agreements

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will publish a Public Service Agreement delivery plan for 2004 Public Service Agreement target number 2.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1589W, by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary (Mr. Straw).

Royal Navy (Shore Establishments)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each of the Royal Navy's operational shore establishments in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland including training establishments and dockyards; how many (i) civilian employees and (ii) service personnel worked at each in (A) 1997, (B) 1990, (C) 1985 and (D) the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Royal Navy Estate comprises of the following operational shore establishments, training establishments and dockyards:
	
		
			   Location Type of establishment 
		
		
			 Scotland   
			 Forward Operating Base Prestwick Prestwick Operational 
			 RM Condor Arbroath Operational 
			 HMNB Clyde Faslane Operational 
			 HMS Caledonia Rosyth Operational 
			
			 England   
			 RM Norton Manor Camp Taunton Operational 
			 RM Royal Citadel Plymouth Operational 
			 RM Turnchapel Plymouth Operational 
			 RM Bickleigh Barracks Plymouth Operational 
			 RM Chivenor Barnstaple Operational 
			 RM Stonehouse Plymouth Operational 
			 RM Poole Poole Operational 
			 HMNB Portsmouth Portsmouth Operational 
			 HMNB Devonport Plymouth Operational 
			 RNAS Culdrose Helston Operational 
			 RNAS Yeovilton Yeovilton Operational 
			 Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth Training 
			 HMS Collingwood Fareham Training 
			 HMS Sultan Gosport Training 
			 HMS Raleigh Torpoint Training 
			 CTCRM Lympstone Lympstone Training 
			 HMS Excellent Portsmouth Training 
			 Hazebrouck Barracks Arborfield Training 
			 Prince Philip Barracks Bordon Training 
			 Institute of Naval Medicine Gosport Miscellaneous 
			
			 Wales Nil  
			
			 Northern Ireland Nil  
		
	
	This list does not include Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Marine Reserve establishments or training areas.
	Information on civilian and naval personnel at individual Royal Navy and Royal Marine facilities is not held centrally, as different organisations and agencies may also have responsibility at the same location. This information could, therefore, be provided only at disproportionate costs. DASA publish a regular report detailing UK regular forces distribution across the UK. A copy of the current report (TSP10) is available in the Library of the House.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department has made a written submission to the Lyons Inquiry on local government finance.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2431W.

Direct Budgetary Support

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much EU aid money has been granted for direct budgetary support in each year since 1999, broken down by country recipient.

Hilary Benn: The European Commission has provided the following details of aid money committed since 1999 to budgetary support including general budget support, assistance directed at specific sectors, and budgetary assistance to mitigate the impact of export earnings shortfalls.
	
		EC general budget support plus sector budget support by recipient country € million
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 ACP 276.93 552.61 386.96 565.55 845.14 551.90 
			 Benin — 18.80 — — 80.00 — 
			 Burkina Faso 39.20 23.50 — 125.00 — — 
			 Burundi — — — 22.60 — 43.60 
			 Cameroon — 19.51 — — — — 
			 Cape Verde — 15.00 12.10 — — 5.80 
			 CAR 6.50 22.00 — 4.40 — — 
			 Chad 9.20 27.10 10.00 — 50.00 — 
			 Cote d'lvoire — — 12.77 40.00 — — 
			 Djibouti — 10.00 — — — — 
			 DRC — — — 5.50 106.00 — 
			 Ethiopia — — 25.65 44.05 — 95.00 
			 Gabon — — 4.90 — — — 
			 Gambia — 9.20 4.26 — — — 
			 Guinea — — 11.04 — — — 
			 Guinea-Bissau — 17.20 — — — — 
			 Ghana 10.57 — 76.22 — 5.00 62.00 
			 Guyana 5.40 0.80 — — — 23.30 
			 Jamaica 9.00 — 21.70 30.00 — 25.00 
			 Kenya — 35.00 — — — 125.00 
			 Lesotho — — 18.50 — — — 
			 Madagascar — 6.80 — 70.00 — 35.00 
			 Malawi 52.09 — — — — — 
			 Mali 37.00 — 31.76 — 132.92 — 
			 Mauritania — — 18.29 — — — 
			 Mauritius — — — — 29.80 — 
			 Mozambique — 79.20 — 168.00 16.40 — 
			 Namibia — — — — 21.00 — 
			 New Caledonia — — — — — 21.50 
			 Niger — 37.94 3.16 20.00 90.00 — 
			 PNG — 10.40 — — — — 
			 Rwanda 24.57 60.82 — — 55.10 — 
			 Sierra Leone — 34.75 — — — — 
			 Sao Tome — 2.80 — — — — 
			 Senegal 39.10 — — — — 53.00 
			 South Africa — 47.08 58.90 35.00 27.92 61.00 
			 Tanzania — — 76.13 — 114.00 — 
			 Uganda 44.30 74.71 — — — — 
			 Vanuatu — — 1.60 — — 1.70 
			 Zambia — — — — 117.00 — 
			 Asia (4)— 0.00 0.00 70.00 0.00 20.00 
			 Bangladesh — — — — — — 
			 Cambodia — — — 20.00 — — 
			 Pakistan — — — 50.00 — — 
			 Vietnam — — — — — 20.00 
			 Latin America (4)— 0.00 0.00 0.00 28.16 90.00 
			 Bolivia — — — — — 22.50 
			 Honduras — — — — — 34.00 
			 Nicaragua — — — — 28.16 33.50 
			 MEDA (4)— 142.00 200.00 178.00 299.00 254.00 
			 Egypt — — — — 40.00 80.00 
			 Jordan — — — 60.00 35.00 30.00 
			 Morocco — 102.00 120.00 — 96.00 79.00 
			 Palestine — — — 98.00 80.00 65.00 
			 Tunisia — 40.00 80.00 20.00 48.00 — 
			 Food security (4)— 51.25 80.02 102.00 20.50 43.40 
			 Armenia — 10.00 10.00 20.30 — — 
			 Azerbaijan — — — 20.30 — — 
			 Bolivia — — — — — 10.00 
			 Eritrea — — 15.02 — — — 
			 Ethiopia — — — 25.00 — — 
			 Georgia — — 25.00 — — — 
			 Honduras — — 8.00 — — 8.00 
			 Kyrgyzstan — 10.00 10.00 20.00 — — 
			 Madagascar — — — — 3.00 5.40 
			 Moldova — 5.50 — 10.40 — 10.00 
			 Montenegro — 11.00 — — — — 
			 Mozambique — — — — 6.50 3.50 
			 Nicaragua — — — — 3.00 6.50 
			 Niger — 4.75 — 6.00 — — 
			 Peru — 10.00 — — — — 
			 Tajikistan — — — — 8.00 — 
			 Yemen — — 12.00 — — — 
			
			 Total GBS plus SBS (4)— 745.86 666.98 914.55 1,192.80 959.30 
		
	
	(4) Not available
	Source:
	Data provided by the European Commission.

Direct Budgetary Support

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money the UK has granted to multi-lateral institutions for direct budgetary support in each year since 1999.

Hilary Benn: The UK does not earmark its contributions to multilateral institutions for the purpose of direct budgetary support. However, our general contributions to the European Commission, the World Bank and regional development banks are used, among other things, to finance policy based lending where resources are transferred directly to the developing country's budget. This quick-disbursing assistance is used to support policy reforms and institutional changes, either at the macro-level or in a sector or sub-sector. It helps countries implement their poverty reduction strategies and promote economic growth.

HIV/AIDS

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government has taken during its G8 and EU presidencies to tackle HIV and AIDS in developing countries.

Gareth Thomas: As president of the G8 and the EU, the UK is showing leadership in the global fight against AIDS through a strong commitment to prevention and treatment.
	Gleneagles secured an important agreement
	"to develop and implement a package for HIV prevention, treatment and care, with the aim of as close as possible to universal access to treatment for all those who need it by 2010"
	The universal access commitment was also agreed at the Millennium Summit in September. The UK convened a follow-up meeting, bringing together officials from the G8, developing countries, civil society, together with the Joint United Nations Programme for AIDS (UNAIDS), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Bank and UNICEF to start mapping out how to deliver against the commitment.
	The UNAIDS have now set up a Global Steering Committee (GSC), co-chaired by the UK and UNAIDS. The GSC will meet for the first time in Washington DC on 9–10 January 2006 and is expected to report to the High level UN General Assembly Special Session in mid 2006.
	The UK also hosted the third and final Replenishment Conference for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria on 5 and 6 September. The UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, chaired the Conference. My right hon. Friend, Hilary Benn was able to confirm the UK's earlier announcement of a doubling of our support for the Global Fund in 2006 and 2007 to £100 million in each of these two years. The UK's pledge amounted to 10 per cent. of the US$3.7 billion pledged to the Global Fund for the two-year period by international donors, far exceeding our 'fair share'. The amount pledged by 29 donors represents more than half of the Global Fund's total resource needs for the two-year period.
	The conference included a session on the global architecture within which the Global Fund operates. These discussions built on the 'Three Ones' principles and the UK co-hosted 'Making the Money Work' meeting, which had established a Global Task Team (GTT) to improve AIDS co-ordination among multilateral and international donors. As a result of the GTT, the UK expects fundamental improvements in how the UN and international donors such as the Global Fund work together to support countries develop and lead effective responses to AIDS. To support this work, the UK doubled our contributions to the UNAIDS for the next two years.
	EU Ministers, meeting in London on 30 November under the UK presidency, also confirmed their commitment to increased prevention by issuing a statement on a vision for an AIDS free generation, the first pan-European pledge of its kind. The statement backs efforts to give people around the world better access to condoms and effective information. It advocates a comprehensive and evidenced based approach to HIV prevention including sexual and reproductive health information and services, harm reduction programmes for injecting drug users and reliable access to sexual and reproductive health commodities.

Bankruptcies

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many bankruptcies there have been in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

David Hanson: In the absence of my hon. Friend, the Member for Basildon (Angela E. Smith), I have been asked to reply.
	The following table shows the number of bankruptcies in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 financial years.
	
		
			 Year ending 31March Number of bankruptcies 
		
		
			 1996 408 
			 1997 371 
			 1998 417 
			 1999 405 
			 2000 395 
			 2001 331 
			 2002 280 
			 2003 350 
			 2004(7) 582 
			 2005(7) 685 
			 Total 4,224 
		
	
	(7) The increase in the figures for years ending 31 March 2004 and 31 March 2005 are due mainly to an increase in the numbers of consumer (non-trader) bankruptcies which has been brought about by a rise in credit card debt and increased personal lending.

Doctors and Nurses

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses there were per head of population in (i) Northern Ireland and (ii) each Health Board in each year since 1995.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is provided in the following tables.
	
		Doctors employed within the NI HPSS per 1,000 head of population in Northern Ireland and by Health Board area by year as at 30 September
		
			  Northern Ireland Northern Board Eastern Board Southern Board Western Board 
		
		
			 1995 1.41 0.77 2.07 1.16 1.08 
			 1996 1.47 0.94 2.09 1.12 1.13 
			 1997 1.52 0.93 2.13 1.28 1.21 
			 1998 1.65 1.00 2.36 1.26 1.33 
			 1999 1.53 0.88 2.25 1.13 1.24 
			 2000 1.59 0.89 2.35 1.21 1.28 
			 2001 1.63 0.89 2.46 1.17 1.29 
			 2002 1.71 0.91 2.63 1.20 1.35 
			 2003 1.81 0.98 2.78 1.24 1.46 
			 2004 1.89 1.01 2.90 1.31 1.52 
			 2005 1.97 1.13 3.00 1.33 1.57 
		
	
	Notes:
	The Mid-year HSSB Civilian Population Estimate for 2005 was not available, therefore the Mid-year HSSB Civilian Population Estimate for 2004 was used for 2005.
	1. Doctors include all medical staff employed within the NIHPSS at the following grades: consultants, associate specialists, staff grade, specialist registrars, PRHOs, SHOs, hospital practitioners, general medical practitioners and medical officers.
	2. These figures exclude primary care general practitioners.
	Sources:
	Doctor headcount figures: Human Resource Management System.
	Civilian population figures: Northern Ireland Statistics Research Agency.
	
		Qualified nurses employed within the NI HPSS per 1,000 head of population in Northern Ireland and by Health Board area by year as at 30 September
		
			  Northern Ireland Northern Board Eastern Board Southern Board Western Board 
		
		
			 1995 8.35 5.80 10.48 7.88 7.52 
			 1996 8.18 5.61 10.44 7.51 7.32 
			 1997 7.83 5.54 9.92 7.02 7.11 
			 1998 7.82 5.63 9.96 6.77 7.14 
			 1999 7.86 5.59 10.04 6.78 7.29 
			 2000 8.00 5.77 10.26 6.81 7.31 
			 2001 7.99 5.84 10.28 6.77 7.20 
			 2002 8.38 5.91 11.01 6.80 7.70 
			 2003 8.80 6.18 11.60 7.17 8.10 
			 2004 9.05 6.38 11.87 7.35 8.50 
			 2005 9.23 6.45 12.10 7.52 8.75 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The Mid-year HSSB Civilian Population Estimate for 2005 was not available, therefore the Mid-year HSSB Civilian Population Estimate for 2004 was used or 2005.
	2. Qualified nurses include midwives and health visiting staff.
	3. These figures exclude bank staff who fill staffing shortfalls to maintain service delivery.
	4. Nursing figures are not available for staff working in general practice surgeries and are therefore not included.
	Sources:
	Nursing headcount figures: Human Resource Management System.
	Civilian population figures: Northern Ireland Statistics Research Agency.

Family Planning Clinics

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many family planning clinics there were in Northern Ireland in each year since 1990; and how many women were seen by them in each year, broken down by health board.

Shaun Woodward: Information on the number of family planning clinics is not available centrally. Information on the number of women attending family planning clinics is shown in the following table, according to Health and Social Services Board, for the years for which the information is available centrally.
	
		
			  Eastern HSS Board Northern HSS Board Southern HSS Board Western HSS Board Northern Ireland 
		
		
			 2003–04 20,981 1,845 4,667 5,061 32,554 
			 2002–03 23,319 1,750 4,206 4,866 34,141 
			 2001–02 20,403 2,044 4,730 5,080 32,257 
			 2000–01 22,714 2,283 4,676 4,679 34,352 
			 1999–2000 23,769 3,156 6,112 5,086 38,123 
			 1998–99 24,944 4,825 5,623 5,651 41,043 
			 1997–98 25,217 5,072 5,930 5,255 41,474 
			 1996–97 24,451 5,375 6,373 5,342 41,541 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information is in respect of the financial year ending 31 March each year.
	2. Figures relate to first attendances by women at family planning clinics during the relevant year.

Freelance Musicians

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to ensure that the policy of the Inland Revenue on liability for national insurance contributions does not lead to the loss of full-time jobs in the Ulster Orchestra.

David Hanson: In the absence of my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Basildon (Angela E. Smith), I have been asked to reply.
	The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland are monitoring discussions currently taking place between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, the Arts Council of England, the Association of British Orchestras and the Musicians Union about the national insurance liability on musicians' earnings. These discussions are ongoing and at an early stage.

Fugitives from Justice

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fugitives from justice meet the criteria for release under the Government's plans.

Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Mr. Donaldson) on 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1643W.

Mental Health Bill

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with his Cabinet colleagues on the extension of the draft Mental Health Bill to Northern Ireland; and if he will list the parts of that Bill which he expects to extend to Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: Officials have been liaising with their colleagues in England on the draft Mental Health Bill on those parts that extend to Northern Ireland. These are section 214, "the Transfer and Return of Patients", sections 363 to 366, "Notification of Speaker in relation to Member of Parliament" and schedule 12, "Member of Parliament Liable to Compulsory Provision: Interpretation".
	At present, the mental health legislation extant in Northern Ireland is the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986. New legislation will be introduced following the current Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability.

Ministerial Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent in each year from 1 May 1997 on ministerial travel, broken down by (a) provision and running costs of vehicular transport, (b) first class travel by rail, (c) standard class travel by rail, (d) first class travel by air, (e) club or equivalent class travel by air and (f) economy class travel by air.

Shaun Woodward: All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the ministerial code and travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	In respect of ministerial cars provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA); my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office (Mr. Jim Murphy) has asked Roy Burke, chief executive of the GCDA, to write to the hon. Member with details of the costs of ministerial vehicles provided to Departments in 2004–05. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library.
	For information for the financial years 2000–01 to 2003–04 I refer the hon. Member to the letters from the chief executive of the GCDA to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) dated 10 January 2005 and to the then hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Howard Flight) dated 13 September 2003. Copies of these letters are available in the Library.
	In respect to domestic ministerial travel, we are unable to provide the information in the format requested by the hon. Member. We cannot identify travel by class for both rail and air nor can we separately identify costs solely for the Ministers. The following table provides the total ministerial team (Ministers and their support staff) rail and air expenditure for the years for which the information is available.
	
		
			   £ 
			  Travel by rail Travel by air 
		
		
			 1997–98 n/a 854,755 
			 1998–99 n/a 947,626 
			 1999–2000 n/a 467,815 
			 2000–01 n/a 801,750 
			 2001–02 3,751 665,047 
			 2002–03 826 622,171 
			 2003–04 4,242 587,043 
			 2004–05 5,880 529,808 
			 2005–06(9) 1,183 296,231 
		
	
	(9) Up to October
	In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information for the financial years 1995–06 to 2004–05. Information for 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current financial year.

Northern Ireland Assembly (Land Use Powers)

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what powers the Northern Ireland Assembly would have to (a) amend and (b) to delete (i) green belt designations, (ii) areas of outstanding natural beauty designations and (iii) sites of special scientific interest after area plans have been adopted.

Angela Smith: The Northern Ireland Executive would be responsible for the implementation of Northern Ireland legislation governing planning matters and conservation designations.
	Green belts, but not areas of outstanding natural beauty or areas of special scientific interest, are established through the area plan process. In the case of green belt designations any amendment or deletion must be carried out through the statutory process to alter an area plan, as set out in the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.
	The Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (as amended), under which areas of outstanding natural beauty are designated, also allows the Department to amend or delete these areas. Similarly, there are provisions in the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002, under which areas of special scientific interest are declared, which empower the Department to amend or delete such areas where their scientific interest has been lost.

Nursing

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many nursing vacancies there are in each health board area; and how many nurses are employed in each of the hospitals in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is provided in the following tables.
	
		Number of current qualified nursing staff vacancies in the NI HPSS by health board area as at 31 March 2005
		
			  Health board area  Headcount Whole-time equivalent 
		
		
			 Northern board 58 54.20 
			 Eastern board 473 436.08 
			 Southern board 46 40.26 
			 Western board 65 63.32 
			 Total 642 593.86 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Qualified nursing staff include health visitors, district nurses and midwives.
	2. Information on qualified nursing staff vacancies includes community-based staff as well as hospital-based staff.
	3. A current vacancy is an unoccupied post, which as 31 March 2005 was vacant and which the organisation was actively trying to fill.
	Source:
	NI Health Trusts and Organisations
	
		Number of long-term qualified nursing staff vacancies in the NI HPSS by health board area as at 31 March 2005
		
			  Health board area  Headcount Whole-time equivalent 
		
		
			 Northern board 14 13.30 
			 Eastern board 222 215.10 
			 Southern board 9 8.84 
			 Western board 38 37.32 
			 Total 283 274.56 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Qualified nursing staff include health visitors, district nurses and midwives.
	2. Information on qualified nursing staff vacancies includes community-based staff as well as hospital-based staff.
	3. A long-term vacancy is an unoccupied post which at 31 March 2005 had been vacant for three months or more (was vacant prior to 31 December 2004) and which the organisation was actively trying to fill. long-term vacancies are a sub-set of current vacancies.
	Source:
	NI Health Trusts and Organisations
	
		Qualified nursing staff employed within the NI HPSS by hospital as at 31 March 2005
		
			 Hospital Headcount Whole-time equivalent 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Area Hospital 909 809.72 
			 Antrim Area Hospital 674 560.59 
			 Ards Hospital 133 96.19 
			 Armagh Community Hospital 7 5.87 
			 Banbridge Hospital 3 3.00 
			 Bangor Hospital 36 27.93 
			 Belfast City Hospital 1306 1097.11 
			 Braid Valley Hospital 73 65.00 
			 Causeway Hospital 395 333.42 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital 857 697.46 
			 Daisy Hill Hospital 291 243.92 
			 Dalriada Hospital 27 22.19 
			 Downe Hospital 155 127.99 
			 Downshire Hospital 144 137.79 
			 Erne Hospital 403 343.77 
			 Forster Green Hospital/Musgrave Park  Hospital 527 435.82 
			 Gransha Hospital 153 125.17 
			 Holywell/Whiteabbey Hospital (Psychiatric  Services) 330 231.27 
			 Knockbracken Healthcare Park 145 133.28 
			 Lakeview (Previously Stradreagh Hospital) 46 33.24 
			 Lagan Valley Hospital 301 246.44 
			 Longstone Hospital 92 84.90 
			 Lurgan Hospital 83 65.65 
			 Mater Hospital 417 365.57 
			 Mid-Ulster Hospital 204 171.09 
			 Moyle Hospital 35 27.01 
			 Muckamore Hospital 189 173.95 
			 Mullinure Hospital 38 31.40 
			 Regional Secure Unit (SEBHSST) 21 20.21 
			 Robinson Hospital 23 16.59 
			 Royal Hospital 2276 1910.79 
			 Shaftesbury Square Hospital 22 18.60 
			 South Tyrone Hospital 63 48.19 
			 St. Lukes Hospital 172 149.44 
			 Thompson House Hospital 44 39.64 
			 Tyrone County Hospital 358 332.79 
			 Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital 263 256.15 
			 Ulster Hospital 987 841.38 
			 Waterside Hospital 54 37.21 
			 Whiteabbey Hospital 204 161.78 
			 Total 12460 10529.51 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Qualified nursing staff include health visitors, district nurses and midwives.
	2. Figures for Antrim area hospital, Whiteabbey hospital, Mid-Ulster hospital, Braid Valley hospital and Moyle hospital are as at November 2005.
	Source:
	NI HSS Trusts

Parole

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what methods are used in Northern Ireland for tracking prisoners on parole; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: The term "parole" in Northern Ireland is taken to refer to home and resettlement leave.
	The Northern Ireland Prison Service is not directly involved with tracking prisoners on parole. However, the PSNI are provided with details of successful applicants for home leave including their addresses and any conditions attached to granting of leave, such as alcohol and/or curfew restrictions. In addition, prisoners may be required to undergo drugs and alcohol testing before leaving and on return to prison. They may also be required to report during release to the Probation Service, who are fully informed regarding home leave conditions. Prisoners may also be required to attend a "checkpoint" meeting with staff during home leave and keep a diary.
	Certain prisoners, including life sentence prisoners, may be accompanied on periods of home leave particularly during the early stages. Where they are permitted overnight stays, there will be hostel supervision.
	Young offenders are required to meet their Probation Officer during home leave. A member of Opportunity Youth may also call unannounced at the home address to check that conditions of temporary release, such as no alcohol, are being adhered to. Young Offenders not subject to custody probation orders are required to report to a local police station during home leave.

Parole

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria are applied in Northern Ireland when considering whether a prisoner is eligible for parole; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: The term "parole" in Northern Ireland refers to home and resettlement leave.
	On 1 March 2004 the Prison Service introduced a new home leave scheme which provides quotas of home and resettlement leave for determinate sentence and life sentence prisoners.
	Determinate sentence prisoners sentenced on or after that date may now avail of leave only during the last 12 months of sentence. The number of days' leave granted depends on the length of sentence and continuous custody. All applications by determinate sentence prisoners are considered by the Home Leave Board of the prison establishment concerned and are subject to a satisfactory risk assessment. Each prisoner must provide the board with reasons why home leave is requested and indicate how he will use home leave constructively. Victim issues are also taken into consideration.
	The same considerations apply to life sentence prisoners.

Police

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) female and (b) male Police Service of Northern Ireland officers were recruited in each year for which figures are available, broken down by (i) Protestants, (ii) Catholics and (iii) others.

Shaun Woodward: I am advised that the breakdown of officers recruited by PSNI are as follows.
	
		
			  Male Female 
			  Protestant community background Catholic community background Not determined Sub total Protestant community background Catholic community background Not determined Sub total Grand total 
		
		
			 2001(10) 39 31 1 71 12 23 0 35 106 
			 2002 144 177 2 323 85 66 1 152 475 
			 2003 137 146 1 284 84 77 3 164 448 
			 2004 176 191 4 371 127 99 1 227 598 
			 2005(11) 104 123 3 230 88 80 1 169 399 
		
	
	(10) From 4 November 2001 to 31 December 2001.
	(11) Up to 28 November 2005.

Prescriptions

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) paid for and (b) free prescriptions were issued in each health board area in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: As prescription forms may include several different items, which may each attract a separate charge, the questioner's term "prescriptions" is therefore interpreted as prescription items.
	(a) The number of prescription items for which the full prescription charge was paid at the point of dispensing by board, from 1997 to 2004 is given in the table.
	Based upon sample analyses, it is estimated that at the NI level a further 5 per cent. of prescription items are covered by pre-payment certificates (PPCs), which allow the patient to obtain as many prescription items as necessary during the four or 12 month validity of the certificate for a set fee.
	
		Total items paid(13) for at point of dispensing by health and social services board—1997 to 2004
		
			  Northern Ireland Eastern Northern Southern Western 
		
		
			 1997 1,182,094 528,275 350,796 194,061 108,962 
			 1998 1,200,997 533,224 356,744 200,891 110,138 
			 1999 1,341,795 574,913 392,984 238,229 135,669 
			 2000 1,409,347 599,206 410,335 257,328 142,478 
			 2001 1,472,666 624,874 429,878 269,369 148,545 
			 2002 1,545,006 647,390 443,897 286,729 166,990 
			 2003 1,553,759 650,009 450,732 278,222 174,796 
			 2004 1,591,521 666,810 457,021 281,375 186,315 
		
	
	(13) Figures exclude items covered by pre-payment certificate—estimated to be 5 per cent. at the Northern Ireland level.
	(b) It is estimated that at the NI level about 89 per cent. of health service prescription items are dispensed free of charge to patients. As this is an estimate these figures could not be presented by board in the following table. Therefore, the table only shows items which the patient did not pay the prescription charge (£6.40 in 2004–05) directly to the pharmacist. A further estimated 5 per cent. of all items are covered by pre-payment certificates previously purchased by the patient.
	
		Total prescription items not paid(14) for at point of dispensing by health and social services board—1997 to 2004
		
			  Northern Ireland Eastern Northern Southern Western 
		
		
			 1997 20,688,292 8,491,313 4,483,332 4,029,939 3,683,708 
			 1998 21,314,929 8,829,638 4,592,844 4,116,488 3,775,959 
			 1999 21,906,106 9,102,138 4,751,223 4,193,880 3,858,865 
			 2000 22,254,285 9,313,514 4,818,510 4,215,256 3,907,005 
			 2001 23,078,459 9,529,152 5,083,861 4,417,831 4,047,615 
			 2002 23,874,951 9,892,410 5,293,327 4,554,270 4,134,944 
			 2003 24,845,257 10,229,453 5,586,449 4,681,621 4,347,734 
			 2004 25,726,828 10,593,205 5,811,504 4,837,362 4,484,757 
		
	
	(14) Figures include prescription items covered by pre-payment certificate, which cannot be separately identified.

Prisons

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost has been in each prison in Northern Ireland in the last five years of providing (a) educational facilities, (b) dental services, (c) medical services, including costs involved in transporting inmates to and from hospital, (d) clothing and (e) food; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: The aggregate resource costs for the whole of the last five financial years, from 2000–01 to 2004–05 are:
	
		
			  £000 
			  Education facilities Dental services Medical services Clothing Food 
		
		
			 Maghaberry 9,013 479 13,189 104 2,442 
			 Magilligan 6,846 364 4,208 87 1,356 
			 Hydebank Wood 5,070 203 3,077 102 662

Sentencing

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the conclusions of the Review of Minimum Terms and Life Sentence Cases.

David Hanson: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 16 November 2005, Official Report, column 1331W.

Smoking

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made by his Department of the medical effects of smoking by pregnant women on the health of an unborn child.

Shaun Woodward: Smoking is a critical women's health issue for both mother and child. Smoking in pregnancy is associated with many problems both for the foetus and newly born baby, including miscarriage, placenta damage, pre-term delivery, low birthweight, perinatal death and sudden infant death syndrome.
	The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety published a five year tobacco action plan in 2003. The plan identified pregnant women as a key target group.

Child Support Agency

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many non-resident parents in Scotland are paying the £5 flat rate of child support per week in the latest period for which figures are available; and in how many cases these payments are being deducted from social security payments by the Child Support Agency;
	(2)  how many Scottish Child Support Agency claims operating under the old scheme of calculation due to transfer to the new scheme, but where the transfer had not yet taken place, there were in each month since March 2003;
	(3)  how many potential child support cases in Scotland are awaiting processing at the point of entry for benefit cases via the Jobcentre Plus interface;
	(4)  what his estimate is of the number of non-resident parents for Scottish Child Support Agency claims who (a) make maintenance payments under the Child Support Agency (CSA) rules, (b) cannot be traced to pay under the CSA, (c) are assessed to have a zero liability due to low income, (d) are assessed to make payments but do not do so regularly, (e) have made alternative maintenance arrangements outside the CSA and (f) make no payments and are not referred to the CSA;
	(5)  what his estimate is of the number of Scottish Child Support Agency claims (a) received and (b) cleared in each month between January 2004 and October 2005;
	(6)  what the Child Support Agency's Scottish caseload has been in each quarter from 1997 to the third quarter of 2005; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not available for Scotland.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) latest accuracy rates and (b) accuracy targets are for (i) new and (ii) old Child Support Agency cases; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty to Mr. David Laws, dated 1 December 2005
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) latest accuracy rates and (b) accuracy targets are for (i) new and (ii) old Child Support Agency cases; and if he will make a statement.
	The compliance targets and performance rates to September 2005 are presented in the table below.
	
		Percentage
		
			   Target Performance at September 2005 
		
		
			 New scheme accuracy 90 83 
			 Old scheme accuracy 82 80 
		
	
	Note:
	Accuracy is measured cumulatively month-on-month throughout the year.
	I hope you find this helpful.

Pensions

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to business of the decision to allow into the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) the schemes of companies which had experienced an insolvency event before the PPF was launched.

Stephen Timms: The indicative view from the PPF is that the impact on levies and thus the cost to business is minimal.

Bed Occupancy

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average bed occupancy rate was at NHS units in Dacorum in each year since 1997.

Caroline Flint: The average bed occupancy rate at national health service units in Dacorum in each year since 1997 is shown in the table.
	
		Occupancy rate, beds provided by West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust and Dacorum PCT, 1997–98 to 2004–05
		
			  Percentage occupancy 
		
		
			 1997–98 77.1 
			 1998–99 80.1 
			 1999–2000 81.6 
			 2000–01 85.6 
			 2001–02 86.1 
			 2002–03 87.0 
			 2003–04 79.5 
			 2004–05 79.0 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Beds provided by West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust and Dacorum PCT have been used in the table.
	2. West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust was formed on 1 April 2000 following the merger of St. Albans and Hemel Hempstead NHS Trust and Mount Vernon and Watford NHS Trust.
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH03

Breast Cancer

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what priority is being given by the Government to (a) the treatment, (b) research into and (c) the financing of measures concerned with inflammatory breast cancer.

Rosie Winterton: The Department is taking action in several areas to improve the treatment of all breast cancers, including inflammatory breast cancer.
	Five of the newer breast cancer drugs have already been appraised by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) for use in the national health service. It is estimated that around 7,500 women could benefit from these new drugs a year;
	A number of other breast cancer drugs are currently being considered by NICE including hormonal therapies which are commonly used for inflammatory breast cancer;
	Service guidance to all professionals on breast cancer was published by NICE in August 2002. The document aims to help shape and improve the delivery of healthcare for women with breast cancer;
	NICE is also developing guidelines on the clinical management of breast cancer. This will help clinicians give the optimal care and treatment to breast cancer patients.
	Cancer is a top Government priority. In the NHS cancer plan, published September 2000, the Department confirmed its commitment to increasing investment in cancer research. The Government's total expenditure on cancer research was estimated to be £190 million in 2000–01. By 2004–05, it will be spending an additional £20 million a year on the NHS infrastructure for cancer research.
	We are already putting record amounts of new investment into the NHS—between 2003 and 2008 NHS expenditure in England will increase on average by 7.5 per cent. each year. It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) to decide how best to spend these resources taking into account local circumstances.
	PCTs have many competing priorities but cancer is a national and local priority. Every PCT will have a sizeable number of people in their area who will be diagnosed with the disease, live with the disease and who die from the disease each year. PCTs will need to ensure they allocate sufficient resource to meet their local contribution to tackling cancer care or other areas.

Breast Cancer

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to improve the accuracy of mammography screening;
	(2)  whether she plans to introduce a system which would allow for all mammography x-rays to be checked twice for signs of malignancy;
	(3)  what plans she has to increase the availability of mammography screening for younger women.

Rosie Winterton: To improve the accuracy of mammography screening we have upgraded the national health service breast screening programme (NHSBSP) by offering two-view mammography, two x-rays of each breast, at all screening rounds. Over 95 per cent. of breast screening units have now implemented two-views, resulting in a 31 per cent. increase in the number of cancers detected annually since April 2001, when roll out began.
	The quality assurance process ensures that the high quality standards of the NHSBSP are not only maintained, but continue to rise year on year. As part of this continuous improvement to the service, the NHSBSP, with the Department and Cancer Research UK funding, is about to begin a major study looking at the use of computer aided reading of mammograms in addition to a human reader. This study is expected to report in two years time.
	The Department is also funding, along with the Medical Research Council and Cancer Research UK, the UK Coordinating Committee on Cancer Research randomised controlled trial of the effect on breast cancer mortality of annual mammographic screening of women starting at age 40, the age trial. The main aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of annual mammographic screening of women starting at ages 40 to 41 on mortality from breast cancer, thus giving a definitive answer to the outstanding question of whether population screening below 50 is beneficial or not. As the trial is primarily looking at mortality benefits, full results are not expected before spring 2006.

Dr. Ann David

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ask Essex police to reopen its investigation into deaths of patients of Dr. Ann David at Basildon Hospital.

Rosie Winterton: It would not be appropriate for the Secretary of State for Health to ask Essex police to reopen its investigation into deaths of patients of Dr. Ann David at Basildon Hospital. However, the Basildon and Thurrock Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust is in contact with Essex police, who are currently considering whether to reopen their investigations into the deaths of a number of patients.

Dentistry

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) hospital and (b community dentists have been employed in each year since 1997, broken down by strategic health authority area.

Rosie Winterton: Details of the total number of hospital and community dentists employed in each strategic health authority area since 1997 are shown in the following table.
	
		Hospital, public health medicine and community health services (HCHS) dental staff by strategic health authority, sector and year. As at 30 September each year Numbers (headcount)
		
			   1997 
			   Of which: 
			   All Staff Hospital Community 
		
		
			 England  3,567 2,188 1,379 
			 Of which: 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Q20 177 110 67 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Q02 73 37 36 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country Q27 241 167 74 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Q15 209 114 95 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley Q10 85 54 31 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Q13 120 56 64 
			 Dorset and Somerset Q22 66 52 14 
			 Essex Q03 79 46 33 
			 Greater Manchester Q14 235 152 83 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Q17 110 60 50 
			 Kent and Medway Q18 71 30 41 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Q25 82 46 36 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Q01 133 81 52 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Q11 88 58 30 
			 North Central London Q05 186 143 43 
			 North East London Q06 101 53 48 
			 North West London Q04 101 23 78 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Q09 133 97 36 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire Q26 67 45 22 
			 South East London Q07 207 170 37 
			 South West London Q08 92 59 33 
			 South West Peninsula Q21 112 73 39 
			 South Yorkshire Q23 125 90 35 
			 Surrey and Sussex Q19 162 97 65 
			 Thames Valley Q16 120 58 62 
			 Trent Q24 133 70 63 
			 West Midlands South Q28 85 38 47 
			 West Yorkshire Q12 173 108 65 
			 Other — 1 1 0 
		
	
	
		Numbers (headcount)
		
			   1998 
			   Of which: 
			   All Staff Hospital Community 
		
		
			 England  3,610 2,225 1,385 
			 Of which: 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Q20 196 117 79 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Q02 71 36 35 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country Q27 249 177 72 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Q15 214 114 100 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley Q10 84 58 26 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Q13 126 59 67 
			 Dorset and Somerset Q22 67 53 14 
			 Essex Q03 66 43 23 
			 Greater Manchester Q14 235 153 82 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Q17 99 52 47 
			 Kent and Medway Q18 70 31 39 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Q25 78 42 36 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Q01 131 78 53 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Q11 87 54 33 
			 North Central London Q05 197 151 46 
			 North East London Q06 98 56 42 
			 North West London Q04 115 28 87 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Q09 142 104 38 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire Q26 62 40 22 
			 South East London Q07 207 164 43 
			 South West London Q08 101 61 40 
			 South West Peninsula Q21 128 83 45 
			 South Yorkshire Q23 120 88 32 
			 Surrey and Sussex Q19 150 97 53 
			 Thames Valley Q16 128 62 66 
			 Trent Q24 130 69 61 
			 West Midlands South Q28 89 45 44 
			 West Yorkshire Q12 169 109 60 
			 Other — 1 1  
		
	
	
		Numbers (headcount)
		
			   1999 
			   Of which: 
			   All Staff Hospital Community 
		
		
			 England  3,616 2,248 1,368 
			 Of which: 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Q20 201 122 79 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Q02 69 34 35 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country Q27 220 158 62 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Q15 227 125 102 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley Q10 69 45 24 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Q13 115 51 64 
			 Dorset and Somerset Q22 63 49 14 
			 Essex Q03 67 44 23 
			 Greater Manchester Q14 261 183 78 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Q17 108 60 48 
			 Kent and Medway Q18 77 33 44 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Q25 71 40 31 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Q01 139 82 57 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Q11 87 55 32 
			 North Central London Q05 192 148 44 
			 North East London Q06 102 57 45 
			 North West London Q04 97 27 70 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Q09 151 112 39 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire Q26 65 44 21 
			 South East London Q07 194 151 43 
			 South West London Q08 107 66 41 
			 South West Peninsula Q21 120 70 50 
			 South Yorkshire Q23 131 100 31 
			 Surrey and Sussex Q19 148 96 52 
			 Thames Valley Q16 139 65 74 
			 Trent Q24 137 76 61 
			 West Midlands South Q28 86 45 41 
			 West Yorkshire Q12 172 109 63 
			 Other — 1 1 0 
		
	
	
		Numbers (headcount)
		
			   2000 
			   Of which: 
			   All Staff Hospital Community 
		
		
			 England  3,530 2,187 1,343 
			 Of which: 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Q20 203 114 89 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Q02 72 35 37 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country Q27 225 162 63 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Q15 213 112 101 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley Q10 67 43 24 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Q13 114 54 60 
			 Dorset and Somerset Q22 66 52 14 
			 Essex Q03 61 40 21 
			 Greater Manchester Q14 250 169 81 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Q17 108 59 49 
			 Kent and Medway Q18 67 28 39 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Q25 71 42 29 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Q01 128 78 50 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Q11 96 67 29 
			 North Central London Q05 157 111 46 
			 North East London Q06 105 58 47 
			 North West London Q04 93 29 64 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Q09 169 141 28 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire Q26 61 39 22 
			 South East London Q07 203 153 50 
			 South West London Q08 98 64 34 
			 South West Peninsula Q21 124 69 55 
			 South Yorkshire Q23 125 99 26 
			 Surrey and Sussex Q19 148 96 52 
			 Thames Valley Q16 129 61 68 
			 Trent Q24 131 74 57 
			 West Midlands South Q28 94 41 53 
			 West Yorkshire Q12 151 96 55 
			 Other — 1 1 0 
		
	
	
		Numbers (headcount)
		
			   2001 
			   Of which: 
			   All Staff Hospital Community 
		
		
			 England  3,532 2,184 1,348 
			 Of which: 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Q20 203 111 92 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Q02 75 30 45 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country Q27 226 157 69 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Q15 208 114 94 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley Q10 68 37 31 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Q13 128 58 70 
			 Dorset and Somerset Q22 56 44 12 
			 Essex Q03 61 43 18 
			 Greater Manchester Q14 237 165 72 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Q17 119 58 61 
			 Kent and Medway Q18 60 24 36 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Q25 70 42 28 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Q01 123 86 37 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Q11 103 65 38 
			 North Central London Q05 163 119 44 
			 North East London Q06 130 83 47 
			 North West London Q04 88 33 55 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Q09 154 134 20 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire Q26 56 27 29 
			 South East London Q07 208 164 44 
			 South West London Q08 105 67 38 
			 South West Peninsula Q21 130 73 57 
			 South Yorkshire Q23 111 89 22 
			 Surrey and Sussex Q19 146 95 51 
			 Thames Valley Q16 127 54 73 
			 Trent Q24 126 71 55 
			 West Midlands South Q28 88 38 50 
			 West Yorkshire Q12 163 103 60 
			 Other — 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		Numbers (headcount)
		
			   2002 
			   Of which: 
			   All Staff Hospital Community 
		
		
			 England  3,654 2,223 1,431 
			 Of which: 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Q20 207 124 83 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Q02 72 33 39 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country Q27 196 127 69 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Q15 236 115 121 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley Q10 56 47 9 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Q13 122 58 64 
			 Dorset and Somerset Q22 56 44 12 
			 Essex Q03 67 43 24 
			 Greater Manchester Q14 240 155 85 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Q17 118 51 67 
			 Kent and Medway Q18 68 26 42 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Q25 79 45 34 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Q01 143 84 59 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Q11 116 63 53 
			 North Central London Q05 149 125 24 
			 North East London Q06 130 84 46 
			 North West London Q04 98 38 60 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Q09 173 149 24 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire Q26 62 30 32 
			 South East London Q07 209 160 49 
			 South West London Q08 93 58 35 
			 South West Peninsula Q21 140 68 72 
			 South Yorkshire Q23 132 112 20 
			 Surrey and Sussex Q19 164 101 63 
			 Thames Valley Q16 126 55 71 
			 Trent Q24 130 69 61 
			 West Midlands South Q28 101 48 53 
			 West Yorkshire Q12 171 111 60 
			 Other — 0 0  
		
	
	
		Numbers (headcount)
		
			   2003 
			   Of which: 
			   All Staff Hospital Community 
		
		
			 England  3,763 2,245 1,518 
			 Of which: 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Q20 223 131 92 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Q02 79 34 45 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country Q27 202 132 70 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Q15 229 120 109 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley Q10 67 42 25 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Q13 119 54 65 
			 Dorset and Somerset Q22 63 46 17 
			 Essex Q03 62 38 24 
			 Greater Manchester Q14 277 144 133 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Q17 121 57 64 
			 Kent and Medway Q18 67 26 41 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Q25 77 43 34 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Q01 136 79 57 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Q11 117 68 49 
			 North Central London Q05 170 127 43 
			 North East London Q06 117 75 42 
			 North West London Q04 89 34 55 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Q09 169 151 18 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire Q26 74 43 31 
			 South East London Q07 203 160 43 
			 South West London Q08 95 63 32 
			 South West Peninsula Q21 144 71 73 
			 South Yorkshire Q23 123 93 30 
			 Surrey and Sussex Q19 180 113 67 
			 Thames Valley Q16 136 59 77 
			 Trent Q24 134 76 58 
			 West Midlands South Q28 105 52 53 
			 West Yorkshire Q12 185 114 71 
			 Other — 0 0  
		
	
	
		Numbers (headcount)
		
			   2004 
			   Of which: 
			   All Staff Hospital Community 
		
		
			 England  3,852 2,279 1,573 
			 Of which: 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Q20 188 124 64 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Q02 80 37 43 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country Q27 199 128 71 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Q15 245 124 121 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley Q10 70 40 30 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Q13 121 50 71 
			 Dorset and Somerset Q22 70 53 17 
			 Essex Q03 66 44 22 
			 Greater Manchester Q14 293 148 145 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Q17 133 53 80 
			 Kent and Medway Q18 74 25 49 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Q25 77 41 36 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Q01 133 68 65 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Q11 98 69 29 
			 North Central London Q05 182 134 48 
			 North East London Q06 139 93 46 
			 North West London Q04 98 41 57 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Q09 174 150 24 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire Q26 71 42 29 
			 South East London Q07 221 170 51 
			 South West London Q08 100 68 32 
			 South West Peninsula Q21 142 68 74 
			 South Yorkshire Q23 123 92 31 
			 Surrey and Sussex Q19 186 113 73 
			 Thames Valley Q16 133 59 74 
			 Trent Q24 146 80 66 
			 West Midlands South Q28 102 48 54 
			 West Yorkshire Q12 188 117 71 
			 Other — 0 0 0 
		
	
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre medical and dental work force census.

Health Protection Agency

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Department will make a statement on (a) the evidence given by and (b) recommendations made by representatives of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.

Caroline Flint: The Department will be contributing to the Government response to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's report on "Crop Spraying and the Health of Residents and Bystanders" which is being coordinated by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Officials in the Department have been discussing with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) issues of common interest with respect to the report.
	The Government response may contain direct reference to statements made by the HPA. The Government are committed to respond to the report within a year of publication.

Health Protection Agency

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the survey that the Health Protection Agency carried out on laboratories, referred to in its oral evidence given to the Royal Commission on Environmental Protection; and whether the survey will be published.

Caroline Flint: The Department will be contributing to the Government response to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's report on "Crop Spraying and the Health of Residents and Bystanders", which is being coordinated by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Officials in the Department have been discussing with the Health Protection Agency issues of common interest with respect to the report.
	The Government response may contain direct reference to statements made by the Health Protection Agency (HPA). The Government are committed to respond to the report within a year of publication. The Department cannot comment on whether the HPA's survey will be published.

Health Services (Uxbridge)

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community pharmacies in Uxbridge constituency have (a) opened and (b) closed since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of community pharmacies by constituency is not centrally collected. However, information prior to 2002 is available by health authority (HA), and from 2002, by primary care trust (PCT).
	The Uxbridge constituency is currently served by Hillingdon PCT. It previously sat within Hillingdon HA.
	Table one shows the number of community pharmacies by HA prior to 2002.
	
		Table 1: By health authority 1997 to 2002
		
			  Total number of pharmacies in Hillingdon HA Opened Closed 
		
		
			 1997–98 63 0 0 
			 1998–99 62 0 1 
			 1999–2000 62 0 0 
			 2000–01 62 0 0 
			 2001–02 62 0 0 
		
	
	Table two shows the number of community pharmacies by PCI from 2002 onwards.
	
		Table 2: By primary care trust 2002–04
		
			  Total number of pharmacies in Hillingdon PCT Opened Closed 
		
		
			 2002–03 62 0 0 
			 2003–04 62 0 0 
		
	
	Notes:
	Data on pharmacy numbers:
	From October 2002, PCTs took over responsibility for community pharmacies from health authorities. Therefore, data on the number of pharmacies in England with NHS contracts is broken down to health authority level until 2001–02, and PCT level from 2002–03 level onwards. The change from HAs to PCTs may have resulted in some boundary changes that is reflected in the data.
	Information on the number of community pharmacies is collected from PCTs via the annual PHS1 data collection. The latest data available on General Pharmaceutical Services (1993–94 to 2003–04) was published in January 2005 on the website www.publication.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0505.htm.
	Data for 2004–05 is not yet available.

Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the take-up of the pneumococcal vaccine has been in (a) all those aged over 80 years and (b) all those aged over 65 years since 1997–98; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: As of 31 March 2005, around 81.0 per cent. of people aged 80 years and over had been vaccinated with pneumococcal vaccine. As of the 31 March 2005, around 48.1 percent., of people aged 65 years and over had been vaccinated with pneumococcal vaccine. It should be noted that up until this date only those 75 years and over had been offered the vaccine routinely.
	The policy to vaccinate those aged 65 years and over was introduced on 1 April 2005. Data on the number of people aged 65 years and over who were vaccinated from 1 April 2005 to 1 April 2006 will be collected from autumn 2006.

Obesity

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect of obesity on the number of visits patients make to general practitioners regarding (i) their weight and (ii) other health complaints.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 22 November 2005
	No research has been commissioned on the effect of obesity on the number of visits patients make to general practitioners regarding their weight and other health complaints. However, the National Audit Office report, "Tackling Obesity in England", published in 2001, estimated that there were over 500,000 consultations recorded in 1998 at a cost of £6.8 million. As part of its enquiry into obesity, the Health Select Committee estimated that this figure had risen to £12–15 million by 2002.

Obesity

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of deaths where obesity was a contributory factor in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available;
	(2)  if she will estimate the number of deaths where obesity is a contributory factor for the next 10 years.

Caroline Flint: holding answers 22 November 2005
	The National Audit Office, in their report "Tackling Obesity in England", estimated there were about 31,100 deaths in England attributable to obesity in 1998. The Health Select Committee updated this estimate to 34,100 in their 2004 report on obesity.

Obesity

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of NHS expenditure on treating conditions for which obesity is a contributory factor in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 22 November 2005
	Information on the amount spent by the national health service on treating conditions for which obesity is a contributory factor is not held centrally. However, the National Audit Office report, "Tackling Obesity in England", published in 2001, estimated that the direct cost to the NHS of treating obesity and its consequences in 1998 was £480 million. As part of its inquiry into obesity, the Health Select Committee estimated that in 2002 the direct cost to the NHS was between £990 million and £1,225 million.

Patient and Public Involvement in Health

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the terms of reference of the Department's strategic review of patient and public involvement in health; and when she expects it to be completed.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 3 November 2005
	A summary of the terms of reference is as follows:
	"We propose to carry out a strategic review of PPI to understand fully the need for PPI and accountability. The review being an umbrella title for a range of activities that will take place between now and the launch of the health and care outside hospitals (HCOH) White Paper, to draw together evidence on good practice in PPI and consideration of how it can be strengthened further. The review will draw evidence from desk research mapping the current configuration and interaction of various parts of the PPI structure, the HCOH deliberative consultation, and a targeted engagement exercise that will run alongside the consultation to check out and explore ideas and their implications for PPI as they emerge. 1 "
	The review is taking place alongside the your health, your care, your say consultation and the work of the having my say policy taskforce, which will make wider recommendations on how national health service and social care services need to respond to the views and choices of its users. The work of the policy taskforce will help shape a new White Paper to be published at the turn of the year on improving community health and social care.
	Source:
	1 Project brief 1.0

Primary Care Trusts

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) deficit for the 2004–05 financial year and (b) projected deficit for the 2005–06 financial year was for (i) South Hams and West Devon primary care trust, (ii) Teignbridge primary care trust, (iii) Torbay primary care trust, (iv) South Devon Health Care NHS Trust, (v) Westcountry Ambulance Services NHS Trust, (vi) Devon Partnership NHS Trust and (vii) South West Peninsula strategic health authority.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 29 November 2005
	The audited year-end financial position for the organisations requested is provided in the table.
	
		
			  £000 
			 Organisation Surplus/(Deficit) 2004–05 
		
		
			 South West Peninsula Strategic Health Authority 5,889 
			 South Hams and West Devon Primary Care Trust 21 
			 Teignbridge Primary Care Trust 474 
			 Torbay Primary Care Trust 188 
			 South Devon Healthcare National Health Service Trust 81 
			 Westcountry Ambulance Services NHS Trust 35 
			 Devon Partnership NHS Trust (535) 
		
	
	The Department does not currently publish unaudited information relating to the in-year financial position of NHS organisations.

Public Service Agreements

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether 2004 public service agreement target 6 refers to problem drug users who have been through treatment programmes in a specific year.

Caroline Flint: The 2004 public service agreement target six refers to problem drug users who have been through treatment programmes in a specific financial year.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of babies who will be affected by the revised recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on preventative treatment for respiratory syncytial virus.

Caroline Flint: It has been estimated by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation that the revised recommendations would mean that around 2000 babies would receive treatment. The Department will review these estimates.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's relations with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Ian Pearson: The UK remains committed to working towards long-term peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We support the transitional government process and continue to exert pressure on the Government to hold credible elections within the June 2006 deadline. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn) reinforced this message during his recent visit to the DRC.
	The UK is one of the largest bilateral donors to the DRC. We have a £55 million package of bilateral development assistance this year, with a focus on ending conflict and supporting the transition process to start to move towards long-term development. Other support includes justice reform to end the culture of impunity, delivery of health and education services, infrastructure rehabilitation, media and work on the transparent management of natural resources. We work closely with non-governmental organisations, the UN, the EC, World Bank and other bilateral partners.

Diego Garcia

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what permission is required from (a) his Department and (b) the UK diplomatic representative of the British Indian Ocean Territory for (i) US military missions and (ii) landing of US military or civilian aircraft on the island of Diego Garcia.

Douglas Alexander: The 1976 Exchange of Notes, the Diego Garcia Agreement, between the Government and the Government of the United States of America concerning a United States Navy Support Facility on Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, states in paragraph 3 that:
	"Both Governments shall consult periodically on joint objectives, policies and activities in the area. As regards the use of the facility in normal circumstances, the US Commanding Officer and the Officer in Charge of the United Kingdom Service element shall inform each other of intended movements of ships and aircraft. In other circumstances the use of the facility shall be a matter for the joint decision of the two Governments."
	The Diego Garcia Agreement is published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in the United Kingdom Treaty Series, No. 19 (1976).

European Union (Opt-outs)

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 November 2005, Official Report, column 1266W, on European Union (opt-outs), in which areas where the UK had an option not to participate the Government have joined in specific policy developments since 1997.

Douglas Alexander: The UK retains the right to opt in to EU measures on visas, asylum, immigration and other policies related to the free movement of persons (Title IV TEC), as set out in the 1999 treaty of Amsterdam. We opt in to such measures when it is in our interests to co-operate with our EU partners and where they are not incompatible with our right to operate and retain our own frontier controls. The UK has opted in to all proposals and measures on judicial co-operation in civil matters.
	In reference to immigration and asylum, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my right hon. Friend, the Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Mr. Browne) gave to the right hon. Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory), on 7 March, 2005, Official Report, column 1596W. Since that question was answered, the UK has opted into three further immigration and asylum proposals: a proposal for a council decision establishing a European fund for the Integration of third-country nationals and two proposals for decisions of the European Parliament and Council establishing a European refugee fund and a European return fund.

Iran

David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Iran regarding (a) the provisions of the 1991 Memorandum of the Supreme Revolutionary Council of Iran regarding expulsion of Baha'is from university and (b) access to education for Baha'is in Iran.

Kim Howells: During the UK's presidency of the EU, we have pressed the Iranian authorities on several occasions to address the problems faced by the Baha'i community. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did so when he first met Iran's new Foreign Minister, Manuchehr Mottaki, in September. The access of Baha'is in Iran to higher education is of particular concern. In 1993 the special representative of the UN Commission on Human Rights reported the existence of a 1991 memorandum from the Supreme Revolutionary Council of Iran that informed all authorities to deny Baha'i students access to university. The Baha'i International Community continue to report that Baha'i students are not able to access higher education unless they deny their faith or accept that it is recorded incorrectly on official university forms. The UK co-sponsored a resolution on human rights in Iran that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly Third Committee on 18 November. The resolution expresses serious concern at, among other things, the
	"increased discrimination against the Baha'is, including . . . the denial of access to higher education."

Zimbabwe

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what issues he has raised with the Zimbabwe High Commission in the last 12 months; and what result was achieved in each case.

Ian Pearson: Over the last 12 months, the Zimbabwean ambassador has been summoned three times by Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers. My noble Friend the Minister for Africa (Lord Triesman of Tottenham), formally protested about Operation Murambatsvina on 13 June, while my hon. Friend, the former Minister for Africa (Mr. Mullin) protested against the pre-election crackdown on the media and the opposition on 22 February. My right hon. Friend the former Minister for Europe (Mr. MacShane) also summoned the Zimbabwean ambassador in November 2004, to express concern at British journalists denied access to cover the England cricket tour of Zimbabwe. FCO officials have also maintained a dialogue with other Zimbabwe embassy staff, ensuring our concerns on the manipulated elections, the crackdown on urban poor and the continued lack of respect for good governance, human rights and the rule of law, are clear and understood.

Arrest Warrants (Gravesham)

Adam Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many warrants were issued from Dartford magistrates court for the arrest of non-attendees resident in Gravesham in the last year for which figures are available.

Harriet Harman: The information is as follows:
	Warrants issued by Dartford magistrates court
	The requested data is not available. Data is recorded for the Dartford and Gravesham Local Justice Area only.
	Between 1 November 2004 and 31 October 2005 the following warrants were issued in respect of absent defendants for Dartford and Gravesham Local Justice Area.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Fail To Appear Warrants 440 
			 Other (Crime) Warrants 21 
			 Misc. Breach Warrants 116 
			 Total Warrants 577

Child Care Lawyers

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the duty of care that child care lawyers have to the children of their clients.

Bridget Prentice: Lawyers dealing with public law Children Act work may be representing the parents or other carers of children subject to a section 31 application.
	In contract law, the lawyer's obligations are to his/her client to deliver the relevant service. A duty of care indicates a liability, including for damages in negligence (as opposed to contract).
	Professional conduct obligations are a matter for the Law Society. The Professional Conduct Rules are set out in the Guide to the Professional Conduct of Solicitors published by the Law Society.
	The Law Society's Good Practice in ChildCare Cases says
	"Solicitors must ensure that the principle that a child's interests are paramount is reflected in the conduct of the case itself. Solicitors acting for local authorities, for parents and other adult parties, or for the child or children's guardian, giving instructions on the child's behalf, all have a duty to act on the instructions of their particular client. Each client may have a different view on the child's interests. However, all solicitors can, and should, adopt a child-focused approach by ensuring that the presentation of their client's case takes into account the needs of the child throughout."

Asylum Seekers

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum-seekers deported from the UK in (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002, (d) 2003, (e) 2004 and (f) 2005 were due to sit examinations for (i) GCSEs or (ii) A-levels in the year they were deported; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: No information is available to the Home Office on asylum seekers who were due to sit GCSE or A-level exams in their year of removal.
	Information on the removals of asylum applicants is published quarterly on the Home Office RDS website:
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	
		Removals of failed minor asylum seekers by quarter for 2004 and 2005(15)
		
			  2004 2005 
			  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total Q1 Q2 
		
		
			 Adult 3,485 3,290 3,180 3,030 12,985 3,075 3,160 
			 Minor 605 485 400 405 1,895 365 425 
			 Unknown(16) 10 10 10 5 30 0 5 
			 Grand total 4,100 3,780 3,585 3,440 14,905 3,445 3,590 
		
	
	(15) Minors defined as under 18 on the date of their removal.
	(16) For those where no date of birth is available.
	Notes:
	1. This is based on provisional management information.
	2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest five and totals may not sum.

Criminal Records Bureau Checks

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Criminal Records Bureau checks in Wales have given incorrect or inappropriate information on criminal records to individuals applying for an enhanced disclosure award broken down by regions of Wales.

Andy Burnham: The information sought by the hon. member for Bridgend is not available in the format requested.
	The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) does operate a procedure for applicants to contest, or dispute the information provided on their Disclosure. If, upon investigation the CRB finds that a conviction(s) do not relate to the person for whom the Disclosure was issued, they will re-issue a corrected Disclosure free of charge. Prior to the launch of the CRB, had an applicant applied for a position which required a police check under the previous arrangements, details of any alleged convictions would have been passed only to the prospective employer and not to the applicant. Applicants now have the opportunity to contest any conviction details.

O'Connor Report

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the definition is of proactive capability as used in the O'Connor Report published by HM Inspector of Constabulary in the context of policing protective services.

Hazel Blears: The Protective Services Review examined to what extent forces have the necessary capability (i.e. access to the specialist skills and assets) and capacity to deal with serious and organised crime, terrorism, major crimes and other significant events without impacting on other policing services.
	One of the key components was an assessment of the degree to which each force is practised and prepared for these types of incidents, its investment in seeking proactive intelligence, and the extent to which it is engaged in enforcement and preventative activity, such as murder suppression. As such, proactive capability cannot be defined in numerical terms, instead the litmus test is
	"is a force able to do more than just react to incidents?"
	Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) concluded that many forces, but particularly the smaller ones, had low levels of readiness and were only able to react to these incidents as they occurred as opposed to predicting and preventing them. Additional work is now being carried out to determine what proportions of a force's strength might need to be dedicated to this sort of activity to provide an effective service, however this work is still in the early stages.

Police

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces have diving units; how many divers each force has; when (a) diving suits and (b) equipment was last replaced in each unit; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Data is provided in the following tables and has only been provided for forces with figures. Figures are provided for officers and staff whose main function is recorded as 'Underwater-Operational'. This includes members predominantly employed in an Underwater Search Unit, but not including those employed in Marine Units.
	Figures for members predominantly employed in Marine or boat patrol are given separately. It should be noted while this function may include diving, it is not possible to specify how many of these officers are employed specifically in diving.
	Figures regarding diving equipment are not collected centrally.
	
		Police officers and police staff whose main function is 'Underwater-Operational'(20), by force, as at 31 March 2005
		
			  Full-time equivalent 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 8 
			 Cumbria 2 
			 Greater Manchester 2 
			 Humberside 1 
			 Lancashire 2 
			 Merseyside 2 
			 Metropolitan Police 8 
			 North Yorkshire 6 
			 Nottinghamshire 3 
			 South Wales 8 
			 Sussex 8 
			 Thames Valley 8 
			 West Yorkshire 11 
		
	
	(20) Staff with multiple responsibilities (or designations) are recorded under their primary role or function. The deployment of police officers is an operational matter for individual Chief Constables.
	'Underwater-Operational'—includes staff who are predominantly employed in an Underwater Search Unit but not including officers employed in Marine Units.
	
		Police officers and police staff whose main function is 'Marine-Operational, Operational Support or Organisational Support'(21), by force, as at 31 March 2005
		
			  Full-time equivalent 
		
		
			 Dorset 7 
			 Dyfed-Powys 4 
			 Essex 12 
			 Hampshire 9 
			 Kent 6 
			 Metropolitan Police 66 
			 Northumbria 21 
		
	
	(21) Staff with multiple responsibilities (or designations) are recorded under their primary role or function. The deployment of police officers is an operational matter for individual Chief Constables.
	'Marine-Operational'—includes staff who predominantly conduct marine or boat patrol including supervisors.
	'Marine-Operational Support'—includes staff who predominantly perform support function within Marine Sections/Units.
	'Marine-Organisational Support'—includes staff who predominantly perform support functions within Marine Sections.

Prisoners

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many prisoners have left prison in each of the last eight years; and how many left prison without accommodation;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the number of prisoners leaving prison without accommodation;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to strengthen data collection on prisoners' accommodation status on leaving prison; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Prison Service Accommodation Key Performance Indicator has been in place since 2003. The number of prisoners discharged from custody, and the number of those without accommodation to go to are given in the table.
	The level of recording has increased from 76 per cent. in 2003–04 to 95 per cent. in 2005–06 year-to-date. The Prison Service Custody to Work co-ordinators continue to work with establishments to ensure that accurate data is entered onto the Local Inmate Data System (LIDS).
	
		
			   Discharged Discharged without accommodation 
		
		
			 2003–04 87,449 39,764 
			 2004–05 85,685 18,797 
			 2005–06 (Year to Date) 50,004 6,435

Prisoners

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the costs per minute to prisoners are of calls from prison to (a) local, (b) national, (c) international and (d) mobile lines.

Fiona Mactaggart: The rate for national and local calls within the UK is identical at 11p per minute (10p minimum charge for 55 seconds plus 1p for each 5.5 seconds or part thereof).
	Calls to Mobiles within the UK are charged at the following rates:
	
		
			  Pence 
		
		
			 Monday to Friday 08.01–18.00 63.0 
			 Monday to Thursday 18.01–08.00 37.5 
			 Friday 18.01–24.00 37.5 
			 00.01 Saturday to 24.00 Sunday 19.0 
		
	
	International calls are charged at the rates in the following table:
	
		All charges are per minute @ £0.00
		
			 Country BT charge band BT price 
		
		
			 Afghanistan 13 3.00 
			 Albania 3 1.00 
			 Algeria 3 1.00 
			 Andorra 1 0.75 
			 Angola 13 3.00 
			 Anguilla 5 1.20 
			 Antarctica Aus Try 13 3.00 
			 Antigua and Barbuda 5 1.20 
			 Antilles (Dutch) 8 2.00 
			 Argentina 10 2.40 
			 Armenia 8 2.00 
			 Aruba 8 2.00 
			 Ascension Island 13 3.00 
			 Australia 6 1.00 
			 Austria 2 0.75 
			 Azerbaijan Republic a8 2.40 
			 Azores 1 0.75 
			 Bahamas 5 1.20 
			 Bahrain 8 2.00 
			 Bangladesh 12 2.00 
			 Barbados 5 1.20 
			 Belarus a8 2.40 
			 Belgium a1 0.66 
			 Belize 8 2.00 
			 Benin 10 2.40 
			 Bermuda 5 1.20 
			 Bhutan 14 3.00 
			 Bolivia 13 3.00 
			 Bosnia Herzegovina 3 1.00 
			 Botswana 10 2.40 
			 Brazil 10 2.40 
			 Brunei Darussalam 14 3.00 
			 Bulgaria 3 1.00 
			 Burkina Faso 13 3.00 
			 Burundi 13 3.00 
			 Cambodia 17 3.00 
			 Cameroon 10 2.40 
			 Canada 4 0.75 
			 Canary Islands 1 0.75 
			 Cape Verde 13 3.00 
			 Cayman Islands 5 1.20 
			 Cent African Rep 13 3.00 
			 Chad 13 3.00 
			 Chatham Island 6 1.00 
			 Chile 10 2.40 
			 China 14 3.00 
			 Christmas Island 6 1.00 
			 Cocos Islands 6 1.00 
			 Colombia 13 3.00 
			 Comoros 10 2.40 
			 Congo 13 3.00 
			 Cook Islands 13 3.00 
			 Costa Rica 10 2.40 
			 Cote d'Ivoire 10 2.40 
			 Croatia 3 1.00 
			 Cuba 13 3.00 
			 Cyprus 2 0.75 
			 Czech republic 2 0.75 
			 Denmark a1 0.66 
			 Diego Garcia 13 3.00 
			 Djibouti 13 3.00 
			 Dominica 5 1.20 
			 Dominican Republic 5 1.20 
			 East Timor 17 3.00 
			 Ecuador 13 3.00 
			 Egypt 9 2.40 
			 El Salvador 10 2.40 
			 Equatorial Guinea 13 3.00 
			 Eritrea 10 2.40 
			 Estonia a8 2.40 
			 Ethiopia 10 2.40 
			 Falkland Islands 13 3.00 
			 Faroe Islands 1 0.75 
			 Fiji 13 3.00 
			 Finland 2 0.75 
			 France a1 0.66 
			 French Guiana 13 3.00 
			 French Polynesia 13 3.00 
			 Gabon 10 2.40 
			 Gambia 10 2.40 
			 Georgia 8 2.00 
			 Germany a1 0.66 
			 Ghana 10 2.40 
			 Gibraltar 1 0.75 
			 Greece 1 0.75 
			 Greenland 13 3.00 
			 Grenada 5 1.20 
			 Guadeloupe 8 2.00 
			 Guam 13 3.00 
			 Guatemala 10 2.40 
			 Guinea 13 3.00 
			 Guinea Bissau 13 3.00 
			 Guyana 8 2.00 
			 Haiti 8 2.00 
			 Honduras 10 2.40 
			 Hong Kong 7 1.00 
			 Hungary 2 0.75 
			 Iceland 3 1.00 
			 India 16 2.00 
			 Indonesia 14 3.00 
			 Iran 10 2.40 
			 Iraq 10 2.40 
			 Ireland (Republic of) IR 0.66 
			 Israel a8 2.40 
			 Italy (+ Vatican City) 1 0.75 
			 Jamaica 5 1.20 
			 Japan 1 1.50 
			 Jordan 9 2.40 
			 Kazakhstan a8 2.40 
			 Kenya 10 2.40 
			 Kiribati 13 3.00 
			 Korea (North) 13 3.00 
			 Korea (South) 14 3.00 
			 Kuwait 8 2.00 
			 Kyrgyz Republic a8 2.40 
			 Laos 13 3.00 
			 Latvia a8 2.40 
			 Lebanon 9 2.40 
			 Lesotho 10 2.40 
			 Liberia 10 2.40 
			 Libya 3 1.00 
			 Liechtenstein a1 0.66 
			 Lithuania a8 2.40 
			 Luxembourg a1 0.66 
			 Macao 14 3.00 
			 Macedonia 3 1.00 
			 Madagascar 13 3.00 
			 Madeira 1 0.75 
			 Malawi 10 2.40 
			 Malaysia 11 1.50 
			 Maldives 13 3.00 
			 Mali 13 3.00 
			 Malta 2 0.75 
			 Marshall Island 13 3.00 
			 Martinique 8 2.00 
			 Mauritania 13 3.00 
			 Mauritius 10 2.40 
			 Mayotte 10 2.40 
			 Mexico 14 3.00 
			 Micronesia 13 3.00 
			 Midway Island 17 3.00 
			 Moldova 8 2.00 
			 Monaco 1 0.75 
			 Mongolia 13 3.00 
			 Montserrat 5 1.20 
			 Morocco 3 1.00 
			 Mozambique 13 3.00 
			 Myanmar 13 3.00 
			 Namibia 10 2.40 
			 Nauru 13 3.00 
			 Nepal 14 3.00 
			 Netherlands a1 0.66 
			 New Caledonia 13 3.00 
			 New Zealand 6 1.00 
			 Nicaragua 10 2.40 
			 Niger 13 3.00 
			 Nigeria 15 2.40 
			 Niue 13 3.00 
			 Norfolk Island 13 3.00 
			 Northern Marianas 13 3.00 
			 Norway 2 0.75 
			 Oman 8 2.00 
			 Pakistan 12 2.00 
			 Palau 13 3.00 
			 Panama 10 2.40 
			 Papua New Guinea 13 3.00 
			 Paraguay 10 2.40 
			 Peru 10 2.40 
			 Philippines 14 3.00 
			 Pitcairn Islands 13 3.00 
			 Poland 2 0.75 
			 Portugal 1 0.75 
			 Puerto Rico 5 1.20 
			 Qatar 8 2.00 
			 Reunion 13 3.00 
			 Rodriguez Islands 10 2.40 
			 Romania a8 2.40 
			 Russia a8 2.40 
			 Rwandese Republic 13 3.00 
			 Samoa (US) 13 3.00 
			 Samoa (Western) 13 3.00 
			 San Marino 1 0.75 
			 S Tome and Principe 13 3.00 
			 Saudi Arabia 8 2.00 
			 Senegal 10 2.40 
			 Seychelles 10 2.40 
			 Sierra Leone 10 2.40 
			 Singapore 7 1.00 
			 Slovak Republic 2 0.75 
			 Slovakia 3 1.00 
			 Slovenia 3 1.00 
			 Solomon Islands 13 3.00 
			 Somalia 10 2.40 
			 South Africa a8 2.40 
			 Spain 1 0.75 
			 Sri Lanka 12 2.00 
			 St. Helena 13 3.00 
			 St. Kitts and Nevis 5 1.20 
			 St. Lucia 5 1.20 
			 St. Pierre and Miquelon 5 1.20 
			 St. Vincent and the Grenadines 5 1.20 
			 Sudan 10 2.40 
			 Suriname 10 2.40 
			 Swaziland 10 2.40 
			 Sweden a1 0.66 
			 Switzerland a1 0.66 
			 Syria 9 2.40 
			 Taiwan 14 3.00 
			 Tajikistan a8 2.40 
			 Tanzania 10 2.40 
			 Thailand 14 3.00 
			 Togolese 10 2.40 
			 Tokelau 13 3.00 
			 Tonga 13 3.00 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 5 1.20 
			 Tristan Da Cunha 13 3.00 
			 Tunisia 3 1.00 
			 Turkey 3 1.00 
			 Turkmenistan a8 2.40 
			 Turks and Caicos Islands 5 1.20 
			 Tuvalu 13 3.00 
			 US Virgin Islands 5 1.20 
			 US Virgin Islands 5 1.20 
			 Uganda 10 2.40 
			 Ukraine a8 2.40 
			 United Arab Emirates 8 2.00 
			 Uruguay 10 2.40 
			 USA 4 0.75 
			 Uzbekistan a8 2.40 
			 Vanuatu 13 3.00 
			 Vatican City (Italy) 1 0.75 
			 Venezuela 10 2.40 
			 Vietnam 13 3.00 
			 Wake Island 17 3.00 
			 Wallis and Futuna 17 3.00 
			 Yemen 10 2.40 
			 Zaire 13 3.00 
			 Zambia 10 2.40 
			 Zimbabwe 10 2.40

Prisons

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons have a policy on (a) HIV/AIDS and (b) hepatitis C; and what percentage of the total number of prisons this represents.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Health Services for Prisoners Standard of May 2004 requires all establishments to have effective arrangements for the prevention, control and management of communicable diseases. We will be considering findings of the Prison Reform Trust and the National AIDS Trust just published work on "HIV and Hepatitis in UK Prisons: addressing prisoners' healthcare needs" in due course.

Prisons

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many girls under the age of 18 years in prison in England and Wales are reported (a) to suffer from mental problems and (b) to self-harm.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information available about the prevalence of mental health problems for girls and young women is recorded in the Office for National Statistics Survey "Psychiatric Morbidity among Young Offenders in England and Wales." A copy is in the Library. The following table shows the number of reported incidents of self-harm involving female juveniles (those aged 15 to 17 inclusive) in 2003, 2004 and in 2005 to July.
	
		Female juveniles
		
			  Number of incidents Number of Individuals(23) 
		
		
			 2003 462 67 
			 2004 585 73 
			 2005(22) 469 56 
		
	
	(22) January to July 2005 only.
	(23) Based on the 90 per cent. of recorded incidents where the individual is identifiable.

Prisons

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to encourage prisons without a policy on (a) HIV/AIDS and (b) hepatitis C to adopt one; and what assessment he has made of the merits of giving prisoners access to free (i) condoms and (ii) needles.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Health Services for Prisoners Standard of May 2004 requires all establishments to have effective arrangements for the prevention, control and management of communicable diseases. We will be considering findings of the Prison Reform Trust and the National AIDS Trust just published work on "HIV and Hepatitis in UK Prisons: addressing prisoners' healthcare needs" in due course.
	Prison doctors were advised in 1995 that they should make condoms available to individual prisoners, on application, if in their clinical judgment, there is a risk of transmission of HIV infection during sexual activity.
	The Prison Service is planning to issue, in early 2006, revised guidance and instructions which aim to clarify the policy on condoms so that it can be applied more evenly across the prison estate.
	The Prison Service has no present plans to introduce a needle exchange scheme. It continues to monitor developments in the field both at home and abroad, including existing practice in the community here, policy and practice in custodial settings abroad and the effectiveness of needle exchange schemes over other harm minimisation measures.

Access to Learning

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people have started work-based learning in each year since 2000, broken down by programme.

Phil Hope: Full year figures for the numbers starting work-based learning (WBL) broken down by programme are published annually in a Statistical First Release (SFR) produced by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in consultation with Department for Education and Skills (DfES) statisticians.
	The most recent version, entitled 'Further Education, Work Based Learning for Young People and Adult and Community Learning—Learner Numbers in England 2003/04', was published on 14 December 2004. Table 5 contains figures for WBL starts broken down by programme for every year between 2000/01 and 2003/04. The SFR can be downloaded from both the DfES and LSC websites:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000546/index.shtml
	http://www.lsc.gov.uk/National/Partners/Data/Statistics/LearnerStatistics/StatisticalFirst
	Releases/StatisticalFirstRelease200304.htm
	Revised and updated figures for 2004/05 are due to be published on 8 December 2005.

Apprenticeships

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Government-funded apprentices there were in (a) Great Yarmouth and (b) Norfolk in each year since 1996–97.

Phil Hope: Figures for those participating in apprenticeships funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) derive from the individual learner record (ILR). This was collated for the first time in 2001/02 (as an interim ILR) and comparable figures are only available for the three years from then. National figures for 2004/05 are scheduled for publication on 8 December 2005.
	The following table shows the average number in learning 1 for Government-funded apprentices whose home address is in the parliamentary constituency of Great Yarmouth and the local LSC area of Norfolk for each year 2001/02 to 2003/04.
	1 Learner numbers for apprenticeships are monitored monthly. The monthly total changes due to new starts and completions; the number presented is the average number of learners from August to July.
	
		
			  2001/02 2002/03(29) 2002/03(30) 2003/04 
		
		
			 Great Yarmouth 
			 Advanced apprenticeship 172 171 170 140 
			 Apprenticeship at level 2 228 232 249 274 
			 Total 400 403 419 414 
			  
			 Norfolk 
			 Advanced apprenticeship 1,427 1,358 1,377 1,330 
			 Apprenticeship at level 2 1,758 1,928 2,040 2,242 
			 Total 3,185 3,286 3,417 3,572 
		
	
	(29) Old methodology, consistent with 2001/02 figures.
	(30) New, consistent with 2003/04 figures.

Basic Skills Agency

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 16 November 2005, Official Report, column 1280W, on the Basic Skills Agency, what steps she is taking to promote the Basic Skills Agency Quality Mark in schools.

Jacqui Smith: The main responsibility for promoting the Quality Mark to schools rests with the Basic Skills Agency's partner local authorities. Most local authorities (LAs) make the link between the Quality Mark and the school improvement agenda and self evaluation requirements. Some LAs use working for the Quality Mark award as part of the exit strategy from a period of additional support provided through the Primary National Strategy Leadership Programme or Intensifying Support Project. Local authorities also advertise the award through their own networks and communications with schools, including head teacher meetings and governor conferences. Many authorities also ensure that all their advisers are aware of the Quality Mark award and can suggest it to schools that they think will benefit when they are on school visits. The Agency publishes termly in "The Times Educational Supplement" the names of the schools who have gained the award and also produces print and website information about the Quality Mark.

Bournemouth Schools

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in Bournemouth local education authority stayed within budget in the 2004–05 financial year.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is contained within the following table:
	
		
			  Total 
		
		
			 Number of local authority maintained schools reported on section 52 outturn during FY 2004–05(31) 40 
			   
			 Number of schools within their revenue budget for 2004–05(32)(33) 26 
			   
			 Number of schools over their revenue budget for 2004–05(32)(33) 14 
		
	
	(31) Included in the above table are all local authority maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools reported by Bournemouth local authority on their 2004–05 section 52 outturn statement (table B). The data are still being validated by the Department and they are likely to change.
	(32) For the purposes of this table, a school is defined as operating within its revenue budget during 2004–05 if its revenue expenditure for the year does not exceed its revenue income.
	(33) Of the 26 schools who were under budget for 2004–05:
	2 (both primary schools) started the year with a deficit revenue balance and remained in deficit at the end of the year;
	2 (1 primary and 1 secondary school) went from having a deficit revenue balance at the start of the year to being in surplus at the end of the year;
	21 (15 primary, 5 secondary and 1 special school) started the year with a surplus revenue balance and ended the year further in surplus;
	1 (secondary school) started the year with no revenue balance and ended the year in surplus.
	(34) Of the 14 schools who were over budget for 2004–05:
	9 (8 primary and 1 special school) had sufficient surplus revenue balances at the start of the year that they still remained in surplus at the end of the year;
	1 (primary school) went from having a surplus revenue balance at the start of the year to being in deficit at the end of the year;
	4 (all secondary schools) started the year with a deficit revenue balance and ended the year further in deficit.

Bullying

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent on anti-bullying initiatives in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr. Davey) on 14 November 2005, Official Report, columns 928–29W, which sets out this information.
	We do not hold figures which separate primary and secondary school funding information.

Investors in People

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools are (i) accredited as Investors in People and (ii) have been awarded a Charter Mark.

Jacqui Smith: On the basis of information provided by Investors in People UK (HPUK) 7,511 out of 22,343 primary schools in the United Kingdom are recognised as Investors in People. Approximately 33.6 per cent. of all UK primary schools are recognised as Investors in People.
	2,632 out of 4,230 secondary schools in the United Kingdom are recognised as Investors in People. Approximately 62 per cent. of all UK secondary schools are recognised as Investors in People.
	On the basis of information provided by the Cabinet Office 36 out of 22,343 primary schools in the United Kingdom have achieved the Charter Mark. Approximately 0.16 per cent. of all UK primary schools have achieved the Charter Mark.
	56 out of 4,230 secondary schools in the United Kingdom have achieved the Charter Mark. Approximately 1.3 per cent.

Key Stage Grades

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what grade was necessary for a pupil to achieve a level 4 at key stage 2 in (a) reading, (b) writing, (c) mathematics and (d) science in each year since 1995.

Jacqui Smith: The marks required for a pupil to reach the level 4 threshold in each subject, tested at the end of Key Stage 2, is decided each year by a process, known as level-setting, designed to ensure that the level 4 standard is the same as the previous year's. The level thresholds are published each year on the QCA website. The exact number of marks varies from year to year according to the difficulty of the subject papers. The national curriculum tests have evolved over the years to reflect the curriculum, for example in 1998 mental maths was included in the key stage maths test.
	The following table shows the marks required for a pupil to be awarded a level 4 at Key Stage 2.
	
		
			  English overall Reading Writing Math Science 
		
		
			 1995 (42)n/a (43)n/a (43)n/a 31 37 
			 1996 57 (43)n/a (43)n/a 41 45 
			 1997 52 21 31 40 41 
			 1998 51 20 31 523 42 
			 1999 48 17 31 52 42 
			 2000 49 18 31 50 43 
			 2001 50 19 31 49 39 
			 2002 49 18 31 49 40 
			 2003 44 19 254 45 40 
			 2004 41 18 23 48 39 
			 2005 42 17 25 48 42 
		
	
	(42) In 1995 the overall level was not calculated using a single level threshold. Writing and reading were combined in a two-way table (see following table) to provide an overall level.
	(43) In 1996 there were no separate mark allocations for reading and writing, therefore the level threshold was set for English overall.
	(44) In 1998, a mental mathematics element was introduced into the mathematics test. This increased the total number of marks available and therefore the level thresholds were intentionally raised in 1998.
	(45) In 2003, the model of English writing assessment was changed in order to normalise the distribution. The old model meant that most pupils achieved high marks, which was felt to be an inappropriate way of discriminating between levels. The new model of assessment means that the majority of the pupils are around the middle of the mark range. In order to maintain standards between the two models, the thresholds were intentionally lowered in 2003.
	
		
			 Total mark for Reading task score 
			 writing 0–1 2–10 11–27 28–46 47–58 59–63 
		
		
			 0–3 Level 1 Level 1 Level 2 Level 2 Level 3 Level 3 
			 4–8 Level 1 Level 2 Level 2 Level 3 Level 3 Level 4 
			 9–14 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 3 Level 4 Level 4 
			 15–19 Level 2 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 4 Level 5 
			 20–25 Level 2 Level 3 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 5 
			 26–30 Level 3 Level 3 Level 4 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 
			 31–33 Level 3 Level 4 Level 4 Level 5 Level 5 Level 6

Learning and Skills Council

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make an assessment of the impact of funding decisions by Learning and Skills Councils on adult education provision in (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06.

Phil Hope: The Learning and Skills Council will publish the Statistical First Release for 2004/05 on 8 December (as pre-announced in the Schedule for the Publication of National Statistics) which will show numbers of learners in LSC funded provision. Similar information for 2005/06 will be published in December next year.
	This Government has significantly increased funding for further education (FE) in recent years. Total funding has increased by £1 billion in 2005/06 when compared to 2002/03 which represents a 25 per cent. increase. In 2005/06 total funding for FE has increased by 4.4 per cent. compared to 2004/05. This level of funding will enable us to meet our key priorities for 2005/06 to meet the needs of young people, those lacking literacy, numeracy and English language skills and those seeking a first full Level 2 qualification.
	Funding for non-vocational learning opportunities for adults, delivered mainly through local authority adult education services, has also increased. In 2004/05 we provided over £207 million to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in support of this learning. This has risen to £210 million in 2005/06. The Government is committed to safeguarding the availability of a wide range of learning for personal and community development (previously termed adult and community learning).

Learning Difficulties (Schools)

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools for children with learning difficulties have received a (a) grade 1, (b) grade 2, (c) grade 3, (d) grade 4 and (e) grade 5 rating by Ofsted inspectors in their most recent inspection.

Jacqui Smith: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, David Bell has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
	Letter from David Bell, dated 29 November 2005
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
	The table attached shows an analysis of the overall effectiveness judgments for special schools inspected between January 2000 and July 2005. Most special schools (89 per cent.) were inspected in this period. Although all the schools include children with statements of special education need, not all cater solely or mainly for children defined as having learning difficulties; some will include children with physical or sensory disabilities. In addition to the breakdown you asked for, I have also included, for reference, the numbers of schools that were graded 6 or 7 for overall effectiveness.
	
		Overall effectiveness of special schools—January 2000 to July 2005
		
			 Special Schools Number 
		
		
			 Highly effective (grade 1) 41 
			 Very effective (grade 2) 297 
			 Effective (grade 3) 501 
			 Fairly effective (grade 4) 196 
			 Ineffective (grade 5) 34 
			 Very ineffective (grade 6) 15 
			 Very poor (grade 7) 5 
		
	
	Note:
	1. Where schools have been inspected twice during the period 2000 to 2005, only data from the most recent inspection is included.
	2. The framework for inspection changed in September 2003, so the figures contain judgments made under two inspection frameworks.
	3. The table includes 101 schools which have closed since they were inspected.

Public Service Worker Skills

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria were used in making the decision explicity to include improving the skills of workers delivering public services in the Learning and Skills Council's Priorities for Success; and whether this excludes workers delivering private services.

Bill Rammell: Strengthening the skills of the workforce that delivers public services is central to the Government's public service reforms. This was recognised by the Learning and Skills Council in December 2004 in its Annual Statement of Priorities for 2005–06. This was reinforced in "Priorities for Success", issued in October this year, which sets out its funding priorities for the next two years. The detailed rationale behind these funding priorities is a matter for the LSC and Mark Haysom, the Council's chief executive, has written to the hon. Member setting out the detail. A copy of his letter has been placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom to Mr. Stephen O'Brien, dated 30 November 2005
	Improving the Skills of Workers Delivering Public Services
	I am writing in response to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, asking what criteria were used in making the decision explicitly to include improving the skills of workers delivering public services in the Learning and Skills Council's Priorities for Success; and whether this excludes workers delivering private services.
	The LSC's Annual Statement of Priorities identifies the key actions to be taken by the LSC in creating a more highly skilled and productive workforce. In 2004, one in five establishments (20%) reported that they employed staff that they considered not fully proficient and over 1.5 million workers are considered to be not fully proficient by their employers, representing 7% cent of the total workforce in England.
	This continues to be one of the biggest challenges for employers, and the actions within the Annual Statement of Priorities are aimed at addressing these issues in all businesses, whether private, public or voluntary. Our work with the public services sector includes workers employed directly in the sector and employees of private organisations sub contracted to the sector, for example in cleaning and catering.
	Improving the skills of workers delivering public services is a separate priority within the Annual Statement because the challenges they face are substantial in comparison with other sectors. In addition, the impact of better investment in skills on the improved delivery of services to the public, and of better targeted joint investment from the public purse are correspondingly significant.
	Our work with the sector on skills needs has identified that whilst the public sector workforce contains more Level 2 and above qualified workers than the private sector, 21% of employees are still without a first full Level 2. Based on 2003/04 Labour Force Survey data, over a million public service workers across a range of sub sectors have therefore not reached the minimum threshold for employability.
	In addition, a NIACE Skills for Life survey identified that 72% of healthcare staff have numeracy skills below Level 2 and 56% have literacy skills below Level 2. Skills for Life therefore remain a key barrier to upskilling the sector workforce and increasing the number of people with employability skills.
	Finally the LSC intends to enable the sector to attract and retain apprentices and new entrants in the workforce. The sector is characterised by an aged and aging demographic profile that does not match the profile of the communities that it serves. Currently, however, levels of participation in Apprenticeships are low compared to other sectors, with less than 10% of all Apprentices readily identifiable as working in public services.
	It is our intention, working across Government, to secure a joint investment plan for meeting skills needs in the sector. We will progress this work in conjunction with our range of activities detailed in the Annual Statement of Priorities that support employers and employees in any business, including the roll out of the National Employer Training Programme (NETP) which will better equip us to meet the skills needs of all employers by offering them real choice and flexibility in the training available to them.
	I hope that this information is helpful, and demonstrates the LSC's commitment to both targeted action with public services and to our broader work to address the skills needs of employees in all sectors.

Qualifications (Newcastle)

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of working age people were (a) qualified to (i) graduate level, (ii) level 4, (iii) level 2 and (b) without qualification in Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central in each year from 1992.

Phil Hope: The table shows analysis of the level of highest qualification held by the working age population in the parliamentary constituency of Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central at (a) qualified to (i) graduate level, (ii) level 4, (iii) level 2 and (b) without qualification. Data comes from the local labour force survey. Data at parliamentary constituency level is not available prior to 1999.
	
		Percentage
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Qualification level   
			 Graduate level (50)27 (50)32 28 30 31 32 
			 Level 4 and higher, exc. graduates   7 5 6 4 
			 Level 3 17 22 18 21 17 19 
			 Trade Apprenticeships(51) 10 7 7 7 5 4 
			 Level 2 11 11 11 13 10 9 
			 Below level 2 11 8 9 8 10 9 
			 Other qualifications(52) 11 7 7 6 6 10 
			 No qualifications 13 13 12 10 15 14 
		
	
	(50) Data identifying graduates only, is not available for 1999–2000 or 2000–01.
	(51) For the purposes of target measurement people with trade apprenticeships as their highest qualification are assigned to level 3 and level 2 in the ratio of 50:50.
	(52) Qualifications that cannot be assigned directly to levels. For the purposes of target measurement, people with other qualifications as their highest qualification level are assigned to level 3: level 2: below level 2 in the ratio of 10:35:55.
	Notes:
	Columns may not sum to 100 per cent. due to rounding. Working age people are defined as males and females aged 16 to 64 and 16 to 59 respectively.

School Nursing

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department is taking to encourage school nurses to develop their work in (a) the classroom and (b) health promotion.

Jacqui Smith: The recently published Schools White Paper recognises the value of school nursing and notes that school nurses can play a critical role in supporting schools to promote good health. School nurses are already active partners in helping schools achieve Healthy School status. We have recently produced a new guide for schools detailing the criteria for Healthy School status. The guide recognises the importance of schools involving professionals from appropriate external agencies such as school nurses to support and improve personal, social and health education (PHSE) delivery. DfES is also supporting with Department of Health, the PSHE certificate for both teachers and school and community nurses.
	In addition, officials from my Department have been working closely with the Department of Health on work to increase the capacity of school nurses both in terms of numbers and the development of their child-centred public health role in line with the Choosing Health commitments. We intend to publish two documents arising from this work:
	"Looking for a School Nurse?"—modelled on an earlier document published by the DfES (on school bursars). This guide is aimed at head-teachers, setting out both the advantages, and some of the practical considerations, that head-teachers would need to be aware of in terms of having a school nurse either on-site or assigned to a school or cluster of schools; and
	An update of the "School Nurse Development Pack" (first published by DH in 2001) to outline the principles of a modern role and to enable school nurses to expand their knowledge, skills and competencies.

Science A-levels

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils gained an A-Level in (a) chemistry, (b) physics and (c) mathematics or further mathematics in each year since 1990.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested on 16 to 18 1 -year-olds passing GCE A Levels 1993–2005 1 can be found in the following table.
	1 Age at the start of the academic year.
	2 The number of students passing A Levels in specific subjects is not available prior to 1993.
	
		
			  Chemistry Physics Mathematics(53) 
		
		
			 2004/05(54) 32,151 23,012 44,736 
			 2003/04 31,072 23,426 44,344 
			 2002/03 29,833 24,890 42,439 
			 2001/02 30,705 26,089 41,624 
			 2000/01 31,004 25,167 47,970 
			 1999/2000 32,142 25,350 47,943 
			 1998/99 32,476 26,588 49,770 
			 1997/98 33,067 26,461 50,196 
			 1996/97 31,929 25,449 49,254 
			 1995/96 29,964 24,506 47,172 
			 1994/95 29,629 25,185 43,978 
			 1993/94 28,318 25,403 42,900 
			 1992/93 27,651 26,315 42,050 
		
	
	1 Includes those achieving mathematics and/or further mathematics A Levels.
	(53) 2005 figures are provisional.

Special Educational Needs

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether children with special educational needs have a statutory right to express a preference for a place at an academy over a school maintained by a local authority.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 29 November 2005
	Parents have a right to make representations to the local authority (LA) for an academy (an independent school) to be named in their child's statement of special educational needs. When this happens and the LA proposes to name the academy, under the terms of the academy's funding agreement it must consent to being named except
	"where admitting the child would be incompatible with the efficient education of other children and no reasonable steps may be made to secure compatibility".
	An academy's independent status, does not affect parents' rights to appeal to the SEN and disability tribunal.

Student Numbers

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students in year 7 and above attend each middle and secondary schools in Newcastle upon Tyne, including independent schools in each year since 2000–01; and how many of these were in sixth forms at each school.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 28 November 2005
	The available information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Maintained secondary schools and independent schools: number (headcount) of pupils, pupils aged 11 and above(54) and pupils in a sixth form, schools in Newcastle upon Tyne local authority Position as at January each year
		
			  2001 2002 2003 
			   Of which:  Of which:  Of which: 
			  Total pupils Aged 11 to 19 Number of pupils in sixth form(55)(56) Total pupils Aged 11 to 19 Number of pupils in sixth form(55)(56) Total pupils Aged 11 to 19 Number of pupils in sixth form(57)(58) 
		
		
			 Middle Deemed Secondary Schools:  
			 Chapel Park Middle School 358 178 0 351 178 0 355 177 0 
			 Chapel House Middle School 456 222 0 460 230 0 464 232 0 
			 Throckley Middle School 339 173 0 339 174 0 337 169 0 
			 Gosforth Central Middle School 500 246 0 504 252 0 508 253 0 
			 Gosforth West Middle School 467 238 0 427 247 0 394 243 0 
			 Gosforth East Middle School 468 234 0 466 234 0 466 237 0 
			 Denton Park Middle School 268 144 0 204 147 0 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Chevyside Middle School 221 103 0 162 105 0 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Lemington Middle School 437 225 0 371 215 0 319 195 0 
			   
			 Maintained Secondary Schools:  
			 West Denton High School 466 466 40 408 408 0 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Gosforth High School 1,502 1,502 432 1,529 1,529 461 1,572 1,572 470 
			 Walbottle Campus Technology College 1,418 1,418 217 1,430 1,430 226 1,392 1,392 225 
			 Walker Technology College 1,338 1,337 160 1,325 1,325 167 1,298 1,298 156 
			 Benfield School 838 837 69 819 819 69 870 870 84 
			 Kenton School 1,960 1,960 264 1,967 1,967 247 1,980 1,980 257 
			 Heaton Manor School 1,823 1,823 290 1,864 1,864 328 1,906 1,906 359 
			 West Gate Community College 1,400 1,400 132 1,452 1,452 103 1,509 1,509 120 
			 St. Mary's Catholic Comprehensive School 1,042 1,042 164 1,051 1,051 144 1,061 1,061 138 
			 St. Cuthbert's High School 1,099 1,099 181 1,109 1,109 181 1,087 1,087 171 
			 Sacred Heart High School 1,261 1,261 243 1,264 1,264 197 1,313 1,313 214 
			 Firfield Community School 410 410 0 303 303 0 n/a n/a n/a 
			 All Saints College n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 977 977 38 
			   
			 Independent Schools:  
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne Church High School 630 355 84 617 343 90 607 340 (60)— 
			 La Sagesse School 377 251 63 341 237 69 288 199 (60)— 
			 Newcastle Preparatory School 314 24 0 321 19 0 330 29 (60)— 
			 Akhurst Private School 154 (59)— 0 173 3 0 158 (59)— (60)— 
			 Westfield School 354 209 46 357 212 53 368 227 (60)— 
			 Ascham House School 261 16 0 276 21 0 281 23 (60)— 
			 Newcastle School for Boys 196 44 0 186 32 0 164 18 (60)— 
			 Eastcliffe School 137 91 0 128 87 0 122 83 (60)— 
			 Central Newcastle High School 983 647 162 993 650 158 1,003 664 (60)— 
			 Dame Allan's Boys' School 508 442 99 495 433 119 485 429 (60)— 
			 Dame Allan's Girls' School 435 378 93 438 382 93 424 380 (60)— 
			 Royal Grammar School 1,063 918 260 1,099 953 289 1,127 981 (60)— 
			 Talbot House Special School 39 39 0 41 41 0 n/a n/a (60)— 
		
	
	
		Position as at January each year
		
			  2004 2005 
			   Of which:  Of which: 
			  Total pupils Aged 11 to 19 Number of pupils in sixth form(57)(58) Total pupils Aged 11 to 19 Number of pupils in sixth form(57)(58) 
		
		
			 Middle Deemed Secondary Schools:   
			 Chapel Park Middle School 327 171 0 243 176 0 
			 Chapel House Middle School 420 224 0 307 225 0 
			 Throckley Middle School 311 166 0 236 173 0 
			 Gosforth Central Middle School 507 249 0 504 247 0 
			 Gosforth West Middle School 365 220 0 347 226 0 
			 Gosforth East Middle School 466 236 0 463 232 0 
			 Denton Park Middle School n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Chevyside Middle School n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Lemington Middle School 189 138 0 n/a n/a n/a 
			
			 Maintained Secondary Schools:   
			 West Denton High School n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Gosforth High School 1,572 1,572 468 1,625 1,625 513 
			 Walbottle Campus Technology College 1,360 1,360 231 1,394 1,394 221 
			 Walker Technology College 1,241 1,241 157 1,214 1,214 157 
			 Benfield School 943 943 119 949 949 94 
			 Kenton School 1,930 1,930 233 1,985 1,985 282 
			 Heaton Manor School 1,933 1,933 397 1,944 1,944 393 
			 West Gate Community College 1,466 1,466 112 1,444 1,444 85 
			 St. Mary's Catholic Comprehensive School 1,056 1,056 159 1,018 1,018 151 
			 St. Cuthbert's High School 1,082 1,082 171 1,100 1,100 180 
			 Sacred Heart High School 1,315 1,315 237 1,337 1,337 246 
			 Firfield Community School n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 All Saints College 987 987 75 949 949 48 
			 Independent Schools:   
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne Church High School 579 326 (60)— 558 333 (60)— 
			 La Sagesse School 252 164 (60)— 262 164 (60)— 
			 Newcastle Preparatory School 310 40 (60)— 278 29 (60)— 
			 Akhurst Private School 117 (59)— (60)— n/a n/a n/a 
			 Westfield School 353 217 (60)— 364 220 (60)— 
			 Ascham House School 294 20 (60)— 280 19 (60)— 
			 Newcastle School for Boys 152 33 (60)— 156 38 (60)— 
			 Eastcliffe School 111 75 (60)— n/a n/a n/a 
			 Central Newcastle High School 995 664 (60)— 961 638 (60)— 
			 Dame Allan's Boys' School 467 419 (60)— 500 441 (60)— 
			 Dame Allan's Girls' School 423 380 (60)— 421 382 (60)— 
			 Royal Grammar School 1,139 993 (60)— 1,119 979 (60)— 
			 Talbot House Special School n/a n/a (60)— n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	n/a=Not applicable. School not open.
	(54) Age as at 31 August the previous year.
	(55) A school is classified as having a sixth form if there are 8 or more pupils aged 16 and eight or more pupils aged 17.
	(56) Pupils aged 16 to 19 in a school sixth form.
	(57) A school is classified as having a sixth form if there are 1 or more pupils in National Curriculum Year Group 12,13 or 14.
	(58) Pupils in National Curriculum Year Groups 12,13 and 14. Information not available for independent schools.
	(59) Less than 3 pupils.
	(60) Not available.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

Vocational Training

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the effects on industry of vocational training in (a) Tamworth and (b) Staffordshire.

Phil Hope: The Department is committed to ensuring that everyone has the skills he or she needs to be employable and personally fulfilled. Our 14–19 and Skills White Papers set out our strategies for ensuring that education and training meets the needs of employers.
	The Staffordshire Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is responsible for the effective planning and funding of learning to raise the skills of the workforce and the potential workforce. It engages through the year with providers and employers to ensure that provision matches employer skills demands.
	Progress has already been made in improving the availability and quality of relevant vocational skills training to support local employers and local people:
	The LSC funded National Employer Skills Survey 2003 (NESS 2003) showed that Staffordshire was in line with the West Midlands and England in having just 4 per cent. of employers reporting skill shortage vacancies.
	NESS 2003 also showed that Staffordshire LSC had a lower proportion of employers reporting "hard to fill" vacancies at 14 per cent. compared to West Midlands (16 per cent.) and England (17 per cent.).
	With regard to barriers to developing staff, just 13 per cent. of Staffordshire LSC employers quoted a lack of suitable courses compared to 18 per cent. nationally.
	The data for NESS 2005 is due to be released before the end of December and Staffordshire LSC plans to monitor progress as soon as the data is validated and made available.
	Separate information for Tamworth is not available.